PARIS, France — A diplomatic row between the United States and France escalated on Monday when Washington decided to stand firmly behind its ambassador’s criticism of the French response to a rising tide of antisemitism.

US Ambassador Charles Kushner, the father of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, was ordered to report to the French foreign ministry on Monday over a letter he penned to President Emmanuel Macron, accusing his government of not doing enough to combat antisemitism.

It was not immediately clear whether the meeting had taken place, but the summoning nonetheless sparked backlash from the US and Israel.

“We stand by his comments,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. “Ambassador Kushner is our US government representative in France and is doing a great job advancing our national interests in that role.”

The controversy erupted amid concerns about an increase in antisemitic acts and hate crimes in France, as international tensions mount over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Kushner, in his letter to Macron, accused France of a “lack of sufficient action.”

France retorted that “the allegations from the ambassador are unacceptable.” The rift deepened on Monday when Kushner was summoned to the ministry and the Trump administration doubled down on his critique.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also criticized France’s decision to summon Kushner, calling the move the “height of hypocrisy.”

Responding to a post from the French embassy in Israel announcing the decision, Sa’ar wrote on X: “Instead of addressing the issue of the rising antisemitism in France in a........

© The Times of Israel