PARIS (Realist English). France has barred US Ambassador Charles Kushner from direct access to government ministers after he failed to attend a meeting requested by the Foreign Ministry to discuss remarks by the Trump administration concerning the killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had summoned Kushner following the reposting by the US embassy in Paris of statements from Washington regarding Deranque’s death. The 23-year-old activist died from head injuries sustained during clashes between radical-left and far-right groups on the sidelines of a 12 February protest in Lyon against a politician from the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that, given what it described as a failure to respect the responsibilities inherent in the ambassadorial role, Barrot had requested that Kushner no longer be granted direct access to members of the French government. The ministry clarified, however, that Kushner would still be able to carry out his diplomatic functions and hold working-level discussions with officials at the Quai d’Orsay.
The diplomatic dispute centers on a post by the US State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau on X, which cited reports — “corroborated by the French Minister of the Interior” — that Deranque had been killed by left-wing militants. The bureau described “violent radical leftism” as a growing threat and said it expected those responsible to be brought to justice.
Barrot rejected what he called the politicization of the tragedy, saying France would not accept lessons “on the issue of violence” from what he termed the international reactionary movement. The killing has intensified political tensions in France ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner, adviser and son-in-law to President Donald Trump, had previously declined to attend another summons in August concerning a letter sent to President Emmanuel Macron that criticized France’s efforts to combat antisemitism. On that occasion, French officials met with a representative from the US embassy instead.
The latest episode adds strain to bilateral ties, though French officials emphasized that diplomatic channels remain open despite the restrictions on ministerial access.