‘Bringing difficulties on himself’: France ups the ante in spat with U.S. ambassador, says ministers will no longer meet him

U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner gives a news conference marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. in 2026, in Paris, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

PARIS — The U.S. ambassador to France sought Tuesday to smooth over a diplomatic spat with Paris, calling up the French foreign minister who had said earlier in the day that the U.S. diplomat would lose access to French government officials after he skipped a meeting.

French authorities had summoned Ambassador Charles Kushner -- the father of U.S. President Donald Trump ‘s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner -- over comments from the Trump administration that France objected to. But Kushner did not show up for the Monday night meeting, the foreign ministry said.

After French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Tuesday morning that the no-show would dent the ambassador’s ability to serve in France, Kushner telephoned the minister and they agreed to meet in coming days, his office said.

The U.S. Embassy in Paris said in a statement after the call that Kushner and Barrot “spoke today in a frank and amicable call, reaffirming their shared commitment to working together, along with all other ministers and French officials, on the many issues that impact the United States and France, particularly as the two countries celebrate 250 years of rich diplomatic relations.”

The affair was sparked by Trump administration tweets relating to the beating death in France of a far-right activist, Quentin Deranque. The 23-year-old student, described as a fervent nationalist, was beaten by a group of people earlier this month in the city of Lyon, in fighting that erupted between far-left and far-right activists. He later died of brain injuries.

In a post last week on X, the State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau said “violent radical leftism is on the rise and its role in Quentin Deranque’s death demonstrates the threat it poses to public safety.”

The U.S. Embassy in Paris posted the same statement, in French.

The Paris government bristled at what it regarded as interference in French affairs and summoned Kushner. The ambassador’s subsequent call to Barrot on Tuesday after his no-show appeared to then help turn the page.

Barrot reiterated to the ambassador that France cannot accept foreign interference, the minister’s office said. Kushner “took note, expressed his willingness not to interfere in our public debate, and recalled the friendship that binds France and the United States,” it said. They agreed to meet in coming days, it said.

Before the call, Barrot had described the no-show as “a surprise” that flew in the face of diplomatic protocol.

“It will, naturally, affect his capacity to exercise his mission in our country,” Barrot said, speaking to public broadcaster France Info.

He said that Kushner “is bringing difficulties on himself. Because for an ambassador to be able to do his job he needs access to members of the government. That’s the basics.”

“There is nothing more usual than summoning an ambassador when explanations need to be made,” he said. “When these explanations have taken place, then the U.S. ambassador in France will, naturally, regain access to members of the French government.”

“We don’t accept that foreign countries can come and interfere, invite themselves, into the national political debate,” he said.

Barrot had earlier made clear that the dust-up should not hurt broader U.S.-France relations.

“Not showing up is his personal responsibility,” he said. “It does not affect the relationship between France and the United States in any way.”

Last August, Paris also summoned Kushner over a letter he wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron alleging that France did not do enough to combat antisemitism. The foreign ministry called his allegations “unacceptable.”

At the time, Kushner also did not respond to the summons but sent his No. 2 instead.

John Leicester, The Associated Press