The United States ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, has reportedly been barred from holding direct meetings with members of the French government following controversial remarks about France’s domestic affairs and his failure to attend a formal summons at the foreign ministry.
According to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, French authorities have decided that Kushner will no longer be permitted to meet directly with French ministers or senior government officials.
The move follows comments made by the US Embassy regarding the killing of a far-right activist, Quentin Derenk, who was reportedly beaten to death. The incident has shocked France and sparked intense political debate. Allegations suggest that far-left extremists were involved in the attack.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the US Embassy in France, along with the US State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau, said they were closely monitoring the case. The statement also warned about what it described as a rise in “violent far-left extremism” in France, framing it as a potential threat to public safety.
French diplomatic sources reacted strongly, emphasizing that the matter concerns France’s internal political debate and should not be exploited by any foreign government. They argued that Kushner’s comments amounted to interference in domestic affairs.
The French foreign ministry had summoned the ambassador on Monday to address the controversy, but he did not attend. This marks the second time Kushner has failed to respond to an official summons. In August 2025, he also skipped a meeting after publicly criticizing French authorities over rising antisemitism in the country.
his country, the ambassador is expected to show respect for diplomatic norms. They noted that the foreign minister has requested that Kushner no longer be granted direct access to members of the
French government.
The diplomatic friction adds new strain to relations between France and the United States, amid heightened political tensions in both countries.
