France's foreign minister temporarily banned US Ambassador Charles Kushner from meeting with government officials after the American embassy commented on a deadly political incident. Kushner later called to apologize and affirm he didn't intend to interfere in French affairs.
PARIS – France’s foreign minister has lifted restrictions on US Ambassador Charles Kushner after the diplomat reached out Tuesday to clarify his embassy’s controversial statements about French domestic politics, according to a ministerial source.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had prohibited Kushner from conducting meetings with French government officials on Monday evening following the embassy’s public commentary on the death of Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist killed in clashes with alleged radical left-wing protesters earlier this month.
The violent incident has sparked heated political tensions across France’s political landscape, occurring just over one year before the country’s presidential election.
The American Embassy in France, along with the State Department’s counterterrorism division, announced they were tracking the case and posted on social media platform X that “violent radical leftism was on the rise” and posed a threat to public safety.
French officials viewed the American statements as unwelcome meddling in France’s internal political matters. The diplomatic friction comes at a time when relationships between Washington and several European partners remain tense.
During his phone conversation with Barrot, Kushner clarified his position, according to the ministerial source. “The ambassador acknowledged this, expressed his intention not to interfere in our public debate, and reaffirmed the friendship between France and the United States,” the source reported.
The two diplomats have arranged to meet face-to-face in the near future to strengthen bilateral cooperation as both nations mark the 250th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship this year, the source added.
Officials did not specify whether Kushner, who is the father of former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, would immediately regain full access to other French government ministers.