The US ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, must explain why he did not show up when summoned by the French government in order to regain access to ministers, France's foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Tuesday. Kushner was summoned after reposting comments made by Washington about the death of a French far-right activist.
Issued on: 24/02/2026 - 09:41Modified: 24/02/2026 - 14:52
France’s spat with the US ambassador to Paris took another turn Tuesday with the French foreign minister saying the top US diplomat in France must explain himself after ignoring a French summons.
The minister suggested that Ambassador Charles Kushner won’t have access to French government officials until he complies.
French authorities had summoned Kushner – the father of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner – for a meeting on Monday evening after the US embassy in Paris reposted comments by the Trump administration in Washington about slain far-right activist Quentin Deranque.
Deranque, 23, died from head injuries following clashes between radical-left and far-right supporters on the sidelines of a February 12 protest against a politician from the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party in Lyon.
Read moreThousands rally in Lyon for slain far-right activist Quentin Deranque; Nazi salutes reported
French diplomats said Kushner did not show up.
Speaking Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the failure to attend as “a surprise” that flew in the face of diplomatic protocol and will dent Kushner’s ability to serve as an ambassador.
“It will, naturally, affect his capacity to exercise his mission in our country,” Barrot said, speaking to public broadcaster France Info.
“When these explanations have taken place, then the US ambassador in France will, naturally, regain access to members of the French government," the minister added.
The US Embassy did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment on Monday and a follow-up request on Tuesday morning also got no immediate reply.
The French foreign ministry had summoned Kushner over Trump administration tweets about the beating death in France of a far-right activist.
Barrot said the comments needed to be discussed with Kushner.
“We must have an explanation with him," the minister said. "We don’t accept that foreign countries can come and interfere, invite themselves, into the national political debate.”
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters and AFP)
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