Rabat – France’s foreign minister has barred US Ambassador Charles Kushner from meeting directly with government ministers following his absence at a scheduled discussion on controversial comments from the Trump administration.
The French Foreign Ministry said Kushner failed to respect “the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission and the honour of representing one’s country.”
While the American ambassador will lose direct access to ministers, he may continue his diplomatic duties and hold limited exchanges with officials, the ministry confirmed, leaving space for future reconciliation.
The row began after officials from the Trump administration commented on the death of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old far-right activist who suffered fatal head injuries during clashes with hard-left supporters in Lyon on February 14.
The violence erupted during a protest against the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party.
French authorities have formally charged six men in connection with the killing, along with a parliamentary assistant to an LFI lawmaker for complicity.
The Trump administration condemned what it called “violent radical leftism” and warned that political violence threatens public safety.
US State Department undersecretary for public diplomacy Sarah Rogers wrote on X that targeting people for their opinions “means you have opted out of civilization.”
Experts in France pointed out that far-right groups have historically carried out the majority of politically motivated attacks.
Barrot rejected any attempt to turn the tragedy into a political scoring contest. He said the French government would summon Kushner, emphasizing that the matter concerns France’s national debate, not a reason for foreign interference.
A rally in Lyon over the weekend drew roughly 3,200 supporters of Deranque, some displaying white nationalist symbols. Authorities opened an investigation into reports of Nazi salutes during the demonstration.
President Emmanuel Macron is set to hold a meeting Tuesday to discuss measures against violent political groups after Deranque’s death, which has deepened tensions between France’s left and right-wing movements.
