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US envoy calls French minister after foreign ministry snub, source says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 24, 2026
Quick Summary
After missing a summons, U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner called France's Jean-Noel Barrot, pledging not to interfere. The row follows U.S. posts on the Lyon killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque.
US Ambassador Calls French Foreign Minister After Diplomatic Snub
US–France Diplomatic Rift After Embassy Comments
PARIS, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, called France's foreign minister on Tuesday and said he did not want to interfere in the public debate, a day after snubbing a summons at the foreign ministry, a source close to the minister said.
Kushner was banned by Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday evening from meeting members of the French government after the foreign ministry had summoned him over comments made by the embassy on the killing of a French far-right activist last week.
Background: Quentin Deranque Case
Quentin Deranque was beaten to death in a fight with alleged hard-left activists earlier this month. The fallout from the incident has stoked anger and accusations across the political spectrum just over a year from the presidential election.
Embassy Statements and Online Warnings
The U.S. Embassy in France and the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism said they were monitoring the case, warning on X that "violent radical leftism was on the rise" and should be treated as a public safety threat.
Paris Rejects Perceived Interference
The US move was deemed by French authorities as interference in its own affairs. With ties already strained between Washington and some of its European allies, Paris sought to make clear this would not be accepted.
Ambassador’s Pledge to Avoid Interference
"The ambassador acknowledged this, expressed his intention not to interfere in our public debate, and reaffirmed the friendship between France and the United States," a source close to the minister said after Kushner called Barrot.
Planned Meeting and 250th Anniversary
"The Minister and the Ambassador agreed to meet in the coming days to continue working towards a close bilateral relationship, which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year," the source said.
Access to Other Officials Unclear
The source did not say whether Kushner, father of U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, would be given access to other government members in the immediate term.
(Reporting by John Irish and Gianluca Lo Nostro in Paris; Editing by Inti Landauro and Benoit Van Overstraeten)
Key Takeaways
- •After skipping a foreign ministry summons, U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner called France's foreign minister.
- •Jean-Noel Barrot temporarily restricted Kushner's access to French officials following the no-show.
- •The dispute stems from U.S. posts warning about rising violent radical leftism in France.
- •Tensions rose after the killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque in Lyon.
- •Both sides signaled intent to meet soon and maintain a strong bilateral relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions about US envoy calls French minister after foreign ministry snub, source says
1What is the main topic?
U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner called France's foreign minister after skipping a foreign ministry summons, amid a diplomatic dispute over U.S. comments on a politically charged killing in Lyon.
2Why was the ambassador summoned?
French authorities objected to U.S. statements on social media about the killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque, which they viewed as interference in France's internal affairs.
3What happens next?
Kushner and Jean-Noel Barrot indicated they would meet in the coming days to ease tensions and keep Franco-American relations on track.
