France cut off US Ambassador Charles Kushner’s contact to French government officials after he failed to show up for a summons over US Department of State comments about the killing of a far-right activist in Lyon.
“In light of this apparent failure to grasp the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission and the honor of representing one’s country,” French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot “has requested that he no longer be allowed direct access to members of the French government,” the ministry said in a statement late on Monday.
The restriction on Kushner marks an unusual rebuke between long-standing allies. It was the second time that Kushner did not come in person to a French foreign ministry summons.
Photo: AP
In August last year, Kushner sent his deputy to receive a dressing down after he sparked the French government’s ire with an editorial that accused French President Emmanuel Macron of not doing enough to fight anti-Semitism.
In an interview with France Info radio yesterday morning, Barrot said the ban would “naturally” affect Kushner’s ability to carry out his duties as an ambassador.
He added that the diplomat, father of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, would not recover the access until he explains himself to the foreign ministry.
Kushner, 71, a multimillionaire real-estate developer and former attorney, is not a professional diplomat.
He spent time in prison after pleading guilty in 2004 to 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and illegal campaign contributions — though Trump pardoned him in 2020.
Barrot stressed the need “to have a conversation with him.”
“I believe all French people share the same feeling,” he said. “We do not accept that foreign countries can come and interfere in, then insert themselves into, our national political debate, whatever the circumstances.”
Kushner had been summoned to the French foreign ministry after the US embassy in Paris reposted a message on X from the state department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism warning that “violent radical leftism” was on the rise and citing the killing of the young activist as evidence of a threat to public safety.
In the radio interview, Barrot said he expected Kushner to also explain recent US sanctions on French officials, including former EU commissioner Thierry Breton.
A spokesman for the US embassy in Paris did not respond to a voicemail message. The embassy press office did not reply to an e-mail requesting comment.
Quentin Deranque, 23, described in French media as a far-right activist, died last weekend following a fight in Lyon with alleged hard-left supporters.
A march on Saturday to honor Deranque, organized by far-right groups totaling about 3,200 people, took place in Lyon without violence with a massive police presence on the streets.
Local media reported that authorities have asked police to investigate Nazi salutes and homophobic and racist slurs during the event.
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