Trump appoints Long Branch developer Kushner as ambassador to France

LONG BRANCH, NJ – New President Donald Trump just named Charles Kushner as U.S. ambassador to France.

Kushner, 70, is the father of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is one of Trump’s closest advisers, particularly on dealings with Israel.

Kushner is the well-known Long Branch developer who owns Pier Village and Monmouth Mall in Eatontown. His company is in the midst of an ambitious project to demolish and rebuild as luxury townhouses around a public green space.

Kushner Cos. owns other real estate projects in New Jersey, including several residential buildings in Journal Square in Jersey City.

In 2005, Kushner served 14 months in federal prison after being convicted of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion and witness tampering. The case was prosecuted by then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie.

As part of his guilty plea, Kushner admitted to hiring a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, videotaping him and then sending the video to his sister to stop her from testifying before a grand jury

In 2020, in the final days of his first term as president, Trump granted Kushner a full pardon.

Kushner and his wife still live in Long Branch, on a sprawling oceanfront estate. They held large fundraisers there for Trump when he first ran for president in 2016. The Kushner family is still extremely active in real estate in Long Branch and is currently building 299 apartments and a supermarket on Broadway in Long Branch: Major new Kushner investment in Long Branch: 299 apartments. On Broadway (March 2028)