Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, introduced Charles “Charlie” Kushner, President Trump’s nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco.

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Remarks as prepared for delivery:

Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Shaheen, thank you for holding this important nominations hearing today.

It is my honor to introduce my good friend, Charles “Charlie” Kushner—President Trump’s nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco.

I have been fortunate to get to know Charlie, his wife Seryl and their wonderful family.

Their children—Dara, Nicole, Josh, and Jared—are all tremendously successful in their own right and I’ve had the pleasure to know and work closely with Jared and his wife, Ivanka.

The Kushner children—are a testament to the family’s values and character and are, in many ways, Charlie and Seryl’s finest achievement.

Charlie truly embodies the “American Dream.”

As the son of Holocaust survivors who immigrated to the United States in the 1940s with nothing, Charlie rose to become one of the country’s most successful real estate developers—indeed, he’s a skilled and talented negotiator, a leader who treats his employees like family, and a respected philanthropist.

As a lifelong businessman who served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan during President Trump’s first term, I believe the skills and experiences that have made Charlie successful in the private sector will drive his success as America’s ambassador in Paris.

Yet President Trump selected Charlie for this role—not only because of his business acumen and experience in tough negotiations, but also because Charlie is a deeply patriotic American who recognizes the strategic and historical importance of our transatlantic relationships.

Charlie understands the unique and enduring bond between the United States and France—a bond rooted in shared history, democratic values, and mutual interests.

He is committed to advancing U.S. national security interests by deepening the U.S.-France alliance through pragmatic defense collaboration and fair, reciprocal trade relations.

In short, Charlie is a do-er, and he’s energized not only to represent our country, but also accomplish things for the American people.

I am confident that Charlie, when he is confirmed, will work tirelessly to build a more secure and prosperous future for both the American and French people.

I look forward to his testimony today and to working with my colleagues on this committee to ensure his nomination moves forward as quickly as possible.