By Obinna Uballa
Diplomatic tensions between the United States and France have intensified after the French government restricted direct access of the U.S. ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, to senior members of the French administration.
French diplomatic sources said the decision followed Kushner’s failure to honour a summons issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday. He had been called in over comments published by the U.S. Embassy regarding the killing of French far-right activist Quentin Deranque, remarks French officials reportedly considered interference in domestic affairs.
According to sources, the ministry summoned the ambassador after the embassy issued statements on the incident, which it described as part of a worrying trend of rising violent radical leftism. French authorities, however, insisted that the matter concerns France’s internal public debate and should not be subject to foreign commentary.
“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,” a diplomatic source said.
Deranque was reportedly beaten to death in a confrontation involving suspected hard-left activists. The incident has generated heated political debate within France, with some commentators likening it to last year’s fatal shooting of a U.S. conservative activist.
The U.S. Embassy in France and the State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism had earlier stated they were monitoring developments and warned on social media that violent radical leftism should be treated as a public safety threat.
French officials described Kushner’s absence as a breach of diplomatic expectations. As a result, the Foreign Affairs Minister directed that the ambassador should no longer enjoy direct access to members of the French government until further notice.
“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 source added.
Diplomatic insiders noted that this is the second time Kushner has failed to attend a summons. In August 2025, he was reportedly called in to address public comments on rising anti-Semitic incidents in France and criticisms of the authorities’ response.
French authorities emphasised that the access restriction is a procedural measure aimed at upholding diplomatic protocol and ensuring that foreign representatives respect established channels of engagement.
The restriction, officials said, will remain in place until the ministry is satisfied that proper diplomatic conduct will be observed. The U.S. Embassy has not issued an official statement regarding the latest development.
