French minister blocks US envoy Kushner from government access

Published: 24 February 2026.

The English Chronicle Desk.

The English Chronicle Online

France has taken the unusual diplomatic step of restricting access to government ministers for the United States ambassador, Charles Kushner, after he failed to appear for a scheduled meeting with French officials summoned by the foreign ministry. The move highlights growing tensions between Paris and Washington over comments made by U.S. officials regarding a controversial death in France and broader concerns about diplomatic conduct.

The incident that triggered the dispute centres on the death of a 23‑year‑old far‑right activist, Quentin Deranque, who died from head injuries after a clash with radical‑left supporters in the French city of Lyon earlier this month. In response to the incident, the U.S. Embassy in Paris posted on social media comments from the U.S. State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau suggesting that “violent radical leftism… should concern us all.” The French government viewed these statements as unwelcome interference in internal matters, prompting Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot to summon the U.S. ambassador for a formal discussion.

When Kushner did not attend the meeting at the Quai d’Orsay, the French foreign ministry moved to limit his direct access to members of the French government, citing what it described as “an apparent failure to grasp the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission and the honour of representing one’s country.” The ministry said Kushner could still conduct diplomatic duties and interact with officials as necessary, but the restriction signifies a significant rebuke.

Officials in Paris emphasised that this was not a permanent expulsion, leaving open the possibility of reconciliation if Kushner engages directly with French authorities to address the diplomatic frictions. The French foreign ministry stated that continued dialogue could still smooth over differences that are inevitable in a long‑standing alliance that spans 250 years.

Observers note that this is not the first time Kushner has clashed with French officials. Last year, he was summoned over a published letter criticising France’s approach to combating antisemitism, an episode that already strained diplomatic norms under the Vienna Convention, which bars ambassadors from interfering in domestic affairs.

The Deranque case has magnified political sensitivities in France, particularly as it approaches the 2027 presidential election. French leaders have been adamant that foreign commentary should not be allowed to shape domestic debates on violence and political extremism. President Emmanuel Macron and other senior figures have rejected external interventions on French soil, framing them as inappropriate intrusions into national discourse.

For Washington, the situation presents a delicate challenge in managing relations with one of its closest European allies. The United States has largely defended its right to comment on matters it views as connected to broader security issues, including extremist violence. However, Paris portrays the U.S. statements as mischaracterising France’s internal political dynamics and aggravating domestic sensitivities.

Charles Kushner, a real‑estate magnate and father of Jared Kushner — a former senior adviser to the U.S. president and husband of Ivanka Trump — has held the ambassadorial post in Paris since last year. His tenure has already seen delicate episodes, with diplomatic sources noting that France expects its envoys to maintain close and respectful engagement with government counterparts — particularly when summoned on matters of political sensitivity.

As diplomatic discussions unfold, French officials maintain that they are prepared to engage in the necessary dialogue, even as they use procedural measures to signal disapproval of what they see as lapses in diplomatic protocol. The episode underscores frictions in transatlantic relations at a time of heightened political sensitivities in both capitals.

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