Charles Kushner, a prominent real estate investor and the father of Jared Kushner, has announced his departure from New York City to Florida, citing alleged antisemitism from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji. Kushner, who is currently serving as the U.S. Ambassador to France, expressed his discontent with the city's leadership.
"I don’t want to pay taxes and live in a city with a blatantly antisemitic mayor and his antisemitic wife, period," Kushner told The Post. He added that he also objects to living in the city with those who voted for the mayor.
Kushner pointed to several actions by Mayor Mamdani as reasons for his decision, including the mayor's refusal to march in the Israel Day Parade, his calls for the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu, and his outreach to Columbia University protesters who celebrated Hamas. Kushner also mentioned Rama Duwaji's perceived celebration of the October 7 attacks.
"I don’t think you can reason with people that celebrate brutality on October 7th and say it was a hoax," Kushner stated. "I don’t think they are people worth talking to... I don’t respect anybody that celebrates murder, rape, brutality."
Kushner also criticized Mamdani's rhetoric regarding wealth accumulation, suggesting it reflects a broader resentment towards successful individuals. He specifically referenced a viral video where Mamdani highlighted hedge fund manager Ken Griffin as an example of the ultra-rich who utilize New York real estate without being full-time residents. Kushner defended Griffin, stating, "He worked hard to earn all that money. He took a lot of risk to earn all that money. That’s what America’s about."
While Kushner plans to establish residency in Florida, he intends to retain his New York apartment and comply with the city's pied-à-terre tax. He expressed concern that Mayor Mamdani could negatively impact New York City's standing.
"I think there’s a lot of people like me that love New York City," he said, adding he hopes the city's strength will prevent it from being ruined by one person. He referenced former Mayor Bill de Blasio, suggesting that even he could not undermine the city's economic and cultural significance. However, Kushner expressed a belief that Mamdani might be the exception.
Charles Kushner, a real estate developer, built Kushner Companies into a significant family firm. He previously pleaded guilty in 2004 to tax evasion, witness tampering, and illegal campaign contributions but received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. His eldest son, Jared Kushner, served as a senior White House adviser and is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka. His younger son, Joshua Kushner, is the founder of Thrive Capital.
Kushner suggested that Mamdani's supporters should focus on seizing the city's opportunities rather than punishing those who have already achieved success. "The opportunity is there for all Americans," he said.
Kushner concluded by stating his anticipation of enjoying life in Florida with family and friends who have made similar moves. "I’m going to have a very nice life as a resident of Florida, with a lot of family and a lot of friends that are doing exactly that, have done, and continue to do exactly the same thing."