French Government Cuts Off Access for US Ambassador After No-Show

France has barred US Ambassador Charles Kushner from meeting with government officials after he failed to appear at the Foreign Ministry when summoned. The diplomatic dispute stems from American embassy comments about the killing of a French political activist.

PARIS – France has prohibited US Ambassador Charles Kushner from conducting meetings with French government officials following his failure to appear at a scheduled Foreign Ministry appointment on Monday, according to diplomatic sources.

The ambassador had been called to the ministry to address statements made by the US Embassy regarding last week’s death of French far-right activist Quentin Deranque. A diplomatic source explained the situation: “Following the publication by the U.S. Embassy of comments on a tragedy that occurred in France and concerns only our national public debate – which we refuse to allow to be exploited – ambassador Charles Kushner was summoned today to the ministry. He did not show up.”

Deranque died after being attacked during a confrontation with suspected far-left activists in an incident that has deeply disturbed France. Some have compared it to “France’s Charlie Kirk moment,” referencing the shooting of the American conservative activist last year.

The American Embassy in France and the State Department’s counterterrorism office issued statements on social media platform X, declaring they were tracking the situation and cautioning that “violent radical leftism was on the rise” and represented a threat to public safety.

French officials expressed their displeasure with what they viewed as inappropriate interference. “Faced with this apparent misunderstanding of the basic expectations of an ambassador who has the honour of representing his country, the minister requested that he no longer be allowed direct access to members of the French government,” the diplomatic source stated.

This marks the second occasion Kushner has ignored a French government summons. Previously, in August 2025, he was called to provide explanations at the Foreign Ministry after publicly expressing concerns about increasing antisemitic incidents in France and condemning French officials for insufficient action against such acts.