France Bans U.S. Ambassador from Meetings
France has blocked U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner from meeting with government ministers after he skipped an important meeting. Kushner was supposed to explain controversial comments made by the Trump administration about a recent killing in France.
Why France Is Angry
The trouble started when the U.S. Embassy in Paris shared a statement about the death of Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist. The statement expressed concern about “violent radical left” groups in France. French officials demanded Kushner personally explain these remarks.
Instead of showing up, Kushner sent another embassy staffer. He claimed he had personal commitments. This marked the second time he ignored a summons from French authorities.
A Pattern of Avoidance
Back in August 2025, Kushner similarly dodged a meeting after criticizing French President Emmanuel Macron’s handling of antisemitism. That time too, he sent a deputy instead of attending himself.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot responded strongly: “He clearly doesn’t grasp the basic duties of representing his country.” While Kushner can still do other diplomatic work, he’s now barred from direct access to French government members.
Meet Charles Kushner
The ambassador has a controversial background. He’s former President Donald Trump’s father-in-law and was once sentenced to prison for tax fraud and witness tampering. Trump later pardoned him. French newspapers featured the diplomatic clash on their front pages this week.
The Tweet That Started It All
The disputed U.S. statement warned that Deranque’s death “should concern us all” and claimed radical leftists threaten French public safety. Minister Barrot fired back: “We don’t need lessons from abroad about violence,” especially not about how France handles extremism.
International Tensions Rise
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also commented on Deranque’s death, leading Macron to tell foreign leaders to stop “commenting on what’s happening in other countries.” The incident adds to existing U.S.-France tensions over Ukraine, trade disputes, and Europe’s role against Russia.
The U.S. Embassy and State Department haven’t commented on Kushner’s ban. Diplomatic relations remain frosty.
