France to curb US envoy’s govt access after summons no-show

PARIS - France on Feb 23 moved to block US envoy Charles Kushner from having access to government ministers, after he failed to show up to explain comments on the killing of a French far-right activist last week.

The move is the latest instance of diplomatic friction between France and the US under President Donald Trump, with Paris bristling at what it sees as repeated interference by Washington in domestic matters.

Mr Kushner, whose son Jared is married to Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka, has already been summoned once before over his criticism of France’s handling of anti-Semitism. He skipped that meeting as well, sending another official instead.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot summoned the elder Kushner after the US embassy in Paris on Feb 22 reposted the Trump administration’s comments about slain far-right activist Quentin Deranque, 23, who died from head injuries following clashes between radical-left and far-right supporters on the sidelines of a Feb 12 protest against a politician from the left-wing France Unbowed party in Lyon.

Mr Barrot on Feb 22 denounced any attempts to exploit the killing “for political ends” and summoned Mr Kushner for a meeting at 7pm local time on Feb 23.

But a diplomatic source told AFP the ambassador cited “personal commitments” and sent a senior embassy official instead.

“In light of this apparent failure to grasp the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission and the honour of representing one’s country, the minister (Barrot) has requested that he (Kushner) no longer be allowed direct access to members of the French government,” the foreign ministry said.

Mr Kushner would, however, be permitted to continue his diplomatic duties and have “exchanges” with officials, it added in a statement.

Washington has not commented on this development.

On edge

Mr Deranque’s death has put France on edge, igniting tensions between the left and right ahead of a 2027 presidential vote.

More than 3,000 people marched in Lyon on Feb 21 in tribute to Mr Deranque, with the authorities deploying heavy security for fear of further clashes.

On Feb 20, Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers said Mr Deranque’s killing showed “why we treat political violence – terrorism – so harshly”.

“Once you decide to kill people for their opinions instead of persuade them, you’ve opted out of civilisation,” she wrote on X.

The State Department’s bureau of counter-terrorism separately posted: “Violent radical leftism is on the rise and its role in Quentin Deranque’s death demonstrates the threat it poses to public safety.”

The US embassy shared a French translation of the post on its account.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also weighed in, triggering a war of words with French President Emmanuel Macron, who urged her to stop “commenting on what happens in other countries”.

Mr Kushner, who assumed his post in Paris in 2025, had already been summoned to the foreign ministry at the end of August, after the French government took exception to his criticism that Mr Macron was not tackling anti-Semitism.

The US charge d’affaires – the ambassador’s de facto deputy – attended that meeting. AFP