Paris — France has restricted U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner’s access to French government officials after he failed to appear at a scheduled meeting Monday evening to address comments made by the Trump administration regarding the death of a far-right activist, according to the French Foreign Ministry.
The ministry stated that Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has requested Kushner no longer be granted direct access to members of the French government, characterizing his absence as a failure to meet the “basic expectations of the mission of an ambassador.” However, officials indicated a path for reconciliation remains open, stating Kushner is still able to fulfill his duties and engage in discussions at the Quai d’Orsay to “smooth over the irritants that can inevitably arise in a friendship spanning 250 years.”
Kushner was summoned following a statement posted on X by the State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau, which expressed concern over reports that Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist, was killed by “left-wing militants.” The U.S. Embassy in Paris subsequently reposted the statement on social media. Deranque died earlier this month from brain injuries sustained in a beating in Lyon, following a confrontation linked to a student meeting featuring a far-left lawmaker.
French authorities have rejected what they perceive as attempts to politicize Deranque’s death. Minister Barrot stated over the weekend, “We reject any instrumentalization of this tragedy… for political ends,” adding that France requires “no lessons… on the issue of violence, from the international reactionary movement.”
The State Department’s post asserted that “violent radical leftism is on the rise” and poses a threat to public safety, calling for the perpetrators of violence to be brought to justice.
This is not the first time Kushner has faced diplomatic friction with France. He was previously summoned in August to discuss a letter he sent to President Emmanuel Macron alleging insufficient action by France to combat antisemitism. On that occasion, a representative from the U.S. Embassy attended the meeting in Kushner’s absence.
As of Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the French Foreign Ministry has not announced any further actions regarding Ambassador Kushner’s access, and the U.S. Embassy has not issued a statement responding to the restrictions.
