France's foreign minister has demanded an explanation after United States ambassador to France Charles Kushner failed to show up to explain comments made about the killing of a far-right activist, but said ties between France and the United States would not be affected.
France on Monday moved to block Kushner from having access to government ministers, after he failed to show up to explain comments made by the US administration about the killing of French far-right activist Quentin Deranque in Lyon.
The ambassador will have full access "once he explains himself", France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday.
"He needs to be able to have this discussion with us, with the Quai d'Orsay [the Foreign Ministry], so that he can resume the normal exercise of his duties as ambassador in France," Barrot told France Info public radio.
He described the no-show as "a surprise".
Access banned
Barrot summoned Kushner after the US embassy in Paris reposted comments posted by the Trump administration in Washington about the death of Deranque, who died from head injuries following clashes between anti-fascist and far-right activists on 12 February.
The US State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "violent radical leftism is on the rise and its role in Quentin Deranque's death demonstrates the threat it poses to public safety".
On Friday, Sarah Rogers, the State Department under secretary 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 persuade them, you've opted out of civilization," she wrote on X.
Barrot on Sunday denounced any attempts to exploit the killing "for political ends" and summoned Kushner for a meeting at 7pm the following day.
But the ambassador failed to show up and sent a senior embassy official instead.
"In light of this apparent failure to grasp the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission and the honour 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.
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Foreign interference
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, took up his post in Paris last year. He was summoned to the foreign ministry at the end of August, after the French government took exception to his criticism that Macron was not tackling anti-Semitism.
He did not attend that meeting either, and sent the US charge d'affaires – the ambassador's de facto deputy – instead.
Deranque's death has put France on edge, igniting tensions between the left and right ahead of a 2027 presidential vote.
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".
More than 3,000 people marched in Lyon on Saturday in tribute to Deranque, with authorities deploying heavy security for fear of further clashes.
More than 3,000 march in Lyon in tribute to far-right activist
Nazi salutes and racist insults were noted during the march. Two investigations have been opened for condoning crimes against humanity and insults.
Seven people have been charged over Deranque's death.
(with newswires)
