Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has found himself at the center of a political firestorm after casting the sole Democratic vote to confirm Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner and father-in-law to Ivanka Trump, as U.S. Ambassador to France.
The decision, finalized in a 51-45 Senate vote on May 19, 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from the far left, who view Booker’s vote as a betrayal of his recent high-profile campaign against President Donald Trump and his administration. The backlash highlights a perceived hypocrisy, as Booker’s theatrical anti-Trump rhetoric clashes with his support for a controversial figure tied to the Trump family.
The Vote That Shocked Democrats
Charles Kushner, a New Jersey real estate magnate, is no stranger to controversy. In 2005, he pleaded guilty to 18 counts, including tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions, and witness tampering—an infamous scheme involving hiring a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law and sending the recorded encounter to his sister as retaliation for cooperating with federal authorities. Sentenced to two years in prison, Kushner was later pardoned by Trump in December 2020, a move that raised eyebrows given Kushner’s familial ties to the former president through his son Jared, married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka.
Booker’s vote to confirm Kushner as ambassador stood out starkly, as he was the only Democrat to support the nomination, while 45 Democrats and one Republican, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), voted against it. The decision has been widely reported by outlets like Newsweek, The Daily Beast, and The Washington Post, which noted the Senate’s confirmation of a convicted felon to a prestigious diplomatic post as a contentious moment in Trump’s second term.
Booker’s Defense: A Nod to Past Collaboration
In a statement to The Daily Beast, Booker defended his vote, citing his long-standing relationship with Charles Kushner and their collaboration on the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill passed during Trump’s first term.
“I have passionate differences and disagreements with Charlie Kushner, but I supported his confirmation because he has been unrelenting in reforming our criminal justice system and has substantively helped achieve the liberation of thousands of people from unjust incarceration,” Booker said.
He also referenced a 2004 letter he wrote testifying to Kushner’s character during his legal troubles and their continued ties, including a 2013 fundraising event hosted by Jared and Ivanka that raised $41,000 for Booker’s campaign.
While Booker framed his vote as a principled stand based on shared reform efforts, critics argue it undermines his recent anti-Trump crusade, exposing a contradiction that the far left has been quick to seize upon.
The Far Left’s Fury: Accusations of Hypocrisy
Booker’s vote comes on the heels of a series of high-profile actions positioning him as a leading voice against the Trump administration. In late March 2025, he delivered a record-breaking 25-hour Senate floor speech, described by The New Yorker as a heartfelt disruption aimed at highlighting the “grave harm” of Trump’s policies. Weeks later, on April 27, Booker joined House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a 12-hour sit-in protest on the Capitol steps, livestreamed to millions, to oppose a Republican budget plan tied to Trump’s agenda. These moves earned Booker praise from progressives and sparked speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run, as noted by The Hill.
However, the far left now sees Booker’s vote for Kushner as a baffling reversal. Posts on X capture the sentiment, with users like
@MJPlitnick calling Booker’s actions a “ridiculous stunt” that reveals his true colors, and @theprophet359 accusing him of “flip-flopping” by supporting a felon pardoned by Trump. Political strategist Conor Rogers, who worked on Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign, took to X to lambast Booker: “Imagine doing a 24-hour filibuster to ‘Save Democracy’ and then being the only Democrat voting for the financial criminal Kushner [because] he raised you a bunch of cash. Booker is such a fraud.”
Critics point to Booker’s ties to the Kushner family as evidence of opportunism. Yahoo News reported that Ivanka and Jared’s 2013 fundraiser for Booker, combined with Charles Kushner’s public acknowledgment of their “special and close friendship” during his confirmation hearing, suggests a personal and political loyalty that clashes with Booker’s public anti-Trump persona. The far left argues that supporting a Trump-pardoned felon, especially one so closely tied to the Trump family, undercuts Booker’s moral posturing and his calls for oversight of Trump’s administration, as expressed in an April 13 NBC News interview about potential insider trading.
A Political Misstep or a Calculated Risk?
Booker’s vote raises questions about his political strategy. Some analysts suggest he may be prioritizing local New Jersey connections—Kushner is a prominent figure in the state’s real estate and philanthropic circles—over national progressive ideals. Others, like journalist David Atkins on X, question the “possible benefit” Booker derives from the vote, hinting at deeper political or financial motivations. The backlash could jeopardize Booker’s standing with the progressive base, especially as he eyes a potential 2028 presidential bid.
The hypocrisy charge is particularly stinging because Booker’s anti-Trump theatrics were designed to galvanize Democrats. His marathon speech and Capitol sit-in were framed as moral stands against Trump’s agenda, yet his vote for Kushner is seen by many as aligning with the very family he publicly opposes. As Raw Story reported, Democrats are demanding an explanation, with some questioning the sincerity of Booker’s 25-hour filibuster if he’s willing to endorse a Trump ally.
Cory Booker’s decision to vote for Charles Kushner has thrust him into hot water with the far left, who view it as a hypocritical betrayal of his anti-Trump crusade. While Booker defends his vote as a nod to shared criminal justice reform efforts, the optics of supporting Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law—a pardoned felon tied to the Trump family—are damaging.
