France Restricts US Ambassador Charles Kushner's Access in Diplomatic Spat Over Interference
France and the United States are navigating a diplomatic rift after Ambassador Charles Kushner failed to appear for an official summons and was subsequently barred from meeting with French government officials. The incident has introduced tension into transatlantic relations, raising questions about diplomatic protocol and bilateral conduct.
The dispute originated from public statements by the Trump administration regarding the beating death of Quentin Deranque, a young far-right activist in Lyon. The U.S. State Department's Counterterrorism Bureau posted on X, linking the death to "violent radical leftism," a post the U.S. Embassy in Paris amplified. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned this as unacceptable foreign interference in France's internal political debate and formally summoned Ambassador Kushner for explanations.
The situation escalated when Ambassador Kushner did not attend the Monday night meeting. The following day, Minister Barrot stated that such a no-show was "a surprise" that flouts diplomatic norms and would naturally impact the ambassador's ability to carry out his mission, effectively limiting his access to French officials until the matter was resolved.
However, diplomatic efforts quickly followed to contain the fallout. On Tuesday, Ambassador Kushner initiated a telephone call with Minister Barrot. Both sides described the conversation as "frank and amicable." Minister Barrot reiterated France's firm stance against foreign interference. The ambassador took note, reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral friendship, and expressed a commitment not to intervene in French public debate. They agreed to meet in the coming days to restore normal ambassadorial access. This episode follows a previous controversy in August when Paris summoned Kushner over a letter to President Macron concerning antisemitism, to which he also sent a deputy instead of attending personally.
The core of the dispute lies in balancing an ambassador's role with the sovereign expectation of non-interference. As one of the United States' oldest allies, France's formal rebuke underscores the sensitivity of diplomatic norms. While both governments have moved to de-escalate, the incident highlights the potential for public communications to quickly strain even the most established diplomatic ties. The resolution of the access issue will be closely watched as a barometer of the current health of Paris-Washington relations.