France has blocked Charles Kushner, the U.S. ambassador and father of Trump‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner, from meeting French government officials. This happened after Kushner failed to appear when summoned by French authorities to discuss comments made by the U.S. State Department. The State Department had attributed the beating death of a far-right activist to “violent radical leftism,” which France saw as interference in its internal affairs.
France’s foreign minister responded by cutting off Kushner’s access to government members, citing an “apparent misunderstanding of the most basic expectations” of an ambassadorship. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated the decision “will naturally affect his ability to carry out his mission in our country.”
Kushner did later speak with Barrot by phone, saying he did not wish to interfere in French public debate. According to Axios, this was not Kushner’s first run-in with French authorities. He had previously been rebuked for claiming France had not taken “sufficient action” to combat antisemitism.
Trump’s ambassadors have been causing diplomatic trouble across multiple countries
In Belgium, U.S. Ambassador Bill White was summoned after he posted on social media accusing the country of antisemitism and demanding they “DROP THE RIDICULOUS AND ANTI SEMITIC ‘PROSECUTION'” over an investigation into circumcision practices.
He also called Belgium’s health minister “very rude.” Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot responded that any “suggestion that Belgium is antisemitic … false, offensive, and unacceptable.” Democrats have also been pushing back against Trump on the home front, with some inviting guests to pressure Trump at the State of the Union.
BREAKING: France humiliates Trump's ambassador Charles Kushner, father of Jared, by BANNING him from meeting with any members of their government after he caused an international incident.
— Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) February 23, 2026
MAGA diplomacy is just a never-ending series of blunders…
"Following the publication by… pic.twitter.com/zcpq4FiWPJ
In Poland, U.S. Ambassador Tom Rose announced that the U.S. would have “no further dealings, contacts, or communications” with Parliament’s lower house speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty, after accusing him of making “unprovoked insults” against Trump.
Czarzasty had said Trump didn’t deserve the Nobel Peace Prize and had criticized him for “disregarding” Polish veterans. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X that “allies should respect each other, not lecture each other,” to which Rose responded by mocking Tusk’s statement.
France demands an explanation from Charles Kushner, the American ambassador in Paris, for why he failed to show up when summoned to explain comments made by the Trump administration that France objected to. https://t.co/biKAft8Q1g
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 24, 2026
In Iceland, then-ambassador nominee Billy Long reportedly joked that Iceland should become the 52nd state, which caused public outrage in the country. Long dismissed the comment, saying there was “nothing serious” about it, but Icelanders petitioned their foreign minister to reject his ambassadorship.
In Chile, U.S. Ambassador Brandon Judd held a news conference to publicly challenge outgoing President Gabriel Boric, who had criticized Trump. Chile’s Foreign Ministry called Judd’s comments “inappropriate and unfortunate.” Notably, incoming Chilean President José Antonio Kast is a far-right figure the State Department expects will “advance shared priorities” on security, trade, and immigration.
In Israel, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee suggested Israel has a right to much of the Middle East based on biblical interpretation, telling a host that “It would be fine if they took it all” regarding land referenced in the Bible, while adding that Israel isn’t actively trying to expand. The U.S. Embassy said his comments were taken out of context, but Arab governments strongly condemned them.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry rejected his “irresponsible” remarks, and a joint statement from several nations called for “an end to such inflammatory statements.” Meanwhile, Trump’s claims about South Africa have also drawn scrutiny, with Anderson Cooper’s findings on Trump’s South Africa claims raising further questions about the administration’s foreign policy positions.
