PARIS: France moved on Monday to block US envoy Charles Kushner from having access to government ministers, after he failed to show up to explain comments about a killed far-right activist.

The move is the latest instance of diplomatic friction between Paris and the United States under President Donald Trump, with Paris bristling at what it sees as repeated interference by Washington in domestic matters.

Kushner, whose son Jared is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, has already been summoned once before over his criticism of France's handling of antisemitism. He skipped that meeting as well, sending another official instead.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot summoned Kushner 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.

Barrot denounced on Sunday any attempts to exploit the killing "for political ends" and summoned Kushner for a meeting at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) the following day.

But a diplomatic source told AFP the ambassador cited "personal commitments" and sent a senior embassy official instead.

“In light of this apparent failure to grasp the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission and the honor of representing one's country, the minister (Barrot) has requested that he (Kushner) no longer be allowed direct access to members of the French government,” the foreign ministry said.

Kushner would, however, be permitted to continue his diplomatic duties and have "exchanges" with officials, it added in a statement.

Washington has not commented on this development.

On edge

Deranque's death has put France on edge, igniting tensions between the left and right ahead of a 2027 presidential vote.

More than 3,000 people marched in Lyon on Saturday in tribute to Deranque, with authorities deploying heavy security for fear of further clashes.

On Friday, Sarah Rogers, the State Department undersecretary for public diplomacy, said Deranque's killing showed “why we treat political violence — terrorism — so harshly.”

“Once you decide to kill people for their opinions instead of persuading them, you've opted out of civilization,” she wrote on X.

The State Department's bureau of counter-terrorism separately posted: “Violent radical leftism is on the rise, and its role in Quentin Deranque's death demonstrates the threat it poses to public safety.”

The US embassy shared a French translation of the post on its account.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also weighed in, triggering a war of words with French President Emmanuel Macron, who urged her to stop “commenting on what happens in other countries.”

Kushner, who took up his post in Paris last year, was previously summoned to the foreign ministry at the end of August, after the French government took exception to his criticism that Macron was not tackling antisemitism.

The US charge d'affaires — the ambassador's de facto deputy — attended that meeting.

Articles tagged with "Killing"

France to revoke US envoy's govt access after summons no-show