A new diplomatic dispute has emerged between France and the United States, after Paris reportedly barred the American ambassador from holding meetings with French government ministers. The decision came after US Ambassador Charles Kushner failed to appear at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he had been summoned to comment on the killing of a far-right French activist last week.
In France, the issue is largely viewed as an internal political matter, but reactions have also come from across the Atlantic. The US diplomatic representative in Paris, Charles Kushner, is notably the father of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump.
The incident that triggered the controversy involved Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist who was beaten to death during a clash with suspected far-left activists. The case has shaken public opinion in France and has been compared by some commentators to last year’s killing of Charlie Kirk.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in France and the U.S. Counterterrorism Bureau said they are monitoring the situation closely, warning that violent radical left movements are on the rise and should be treated as a public security concern.
This is not the first time Ambassador Kushner has failed to attend a summons from the French Foreign Ministry. In August 2025, he was asked to provide explanations after publicly raising concerns about increasing antisemitic incidents in France and criticizing French authorities for what he described as insufficient action to address the issue.
The latest developments signal growing diplomatic tension between Paris and Washington at a sensitive moment in bilateral relations.
