Cory Booker Sides with Trump? Only Democrat to Confirm Ivanka’s Father-in-Law

May 20, 2025 – Washington, D.C. — Senator Cory Booker is under heavy fire after breaking ranks with his party to cast a lone Democratic vote in favor of Charles Kushner—father of Jared Kushner and father-in-law to Ivanka Trump—for U.S. ambassador to France.

The Senate confirmed Kushner, a convicted felon pardoned by President Trump, in a narrow 51-45 vote on Monday. Every other Democrat opposed the appointment. Even moderate Republicans like Lisa Murkowski voted no. But not Booker.

A Stunning Break from the Left

Kushner’s appointment was already controversial. The New Jersey real estate developer and longtime Trump family ally was sentenced in 2005 to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to 16 felonies—tax fraud, illegal campaign donations, and witness tampering.

His case was so shocking, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who led the prosecution, once described it as “one of the most loathsome crimes I ever handled.”

Despite that history, Booker stood alone. The same man who gave a marathon 25-hour speech condemning Trump’s alleged attacks on democracy just months ago suddenly sided with Republicans to install a Trump insider into one of America’s most prestigious diplomatic posts.

Long-Standing Ties

So what changed? Critics say it’s not about diplomacy—it’s about dollars.

Charles Kushner has been bankrolling Cory Booker’s political ambitions since the early 2000s. In fact, Kushner was one of the earliest financial backers of Booker’s 2002 mayoral run in Newark. Even during Kushner’s legal downfall in 2004, Booker wrote a letter to the court in his defense.

Their alliance has only grown closer. During his recent confirmation hearing, Kushner publicly thanked Booker for his “special and close friendship.”

“Cory Booker just set fire to whatever credibility he had left,” said Conor Rogers, a former Kamala Harris campaign advisor. “This isn’t bipartisanship—it’s old-school cronyism.”

Blowback from the Left

Progressive Democrats are furious. Former Democratic pollster Adam Carlson wrote on X, “Jersey gonna Jersey, I guess. Cory Booker just nuked his ‘resistance’ brand in one vote.”

Another blow came from campaign finance expert Rob Pyers, who mocked Booker’s dwindling donor appeal: “Not exactly the ActBlue fundraising moment he was hoping for.”

Silence from Booker’s Camp

Booker has yet to publicly address the backlash. His office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

But voters in New Jersey—and beyond—are already questioning his motives. Did he vote for Charles Kushner because he believes in second chances? Or because he owes him a favor?

Either way, Booker’s decision is reverberating far beyond the Senate floor. For many on the right, it’s confirmation that even some Democrats are willing to acknowledge the successes—and loyalty—of the Trump era. For many on the left, it’s betrayal.

As one commentator put it bluntly: “Booker pretended to be a better angel. Turns out, he’s just another political operator.”

Charles Kushner is now officially headed to Paris. But Cory Booker may have just exiled his own presidential hopes in the process.