Charles Kushner, the U.S. Ambassador to France, has been officially banned from meeting French government members after failing to appear at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain the U.S. embassy’s comments on the killing of a far-right activist in France, which was viewed as a domestic political matter.
The summons aimed to have Kushner explain the U.S. embassy’s remarks regarding the death of Quentin Delaroche, a French far-right activist who was fatally attacked during a clash with a group claiming to be far-left activists. This incident shocked the nation and was dubbed the "Charlie Kirk incident of France."
The U.S. embassy in France, along with the U.S. State Department’s counterterrorism office, posted on X that they are closely monitoring the case, warning that "extreme far-left ideology is on the rise" and should be treated as a threat to public safety.
A French diplomatic source stated, "Following the U.S. embassy’s public comments on this tragedy in France—which is a matter of internal national debate—and our refusal to allow this issue to be exploited politically, Ambassador Charles Kushner was summoned to the ministry today, but he did not appear."
The source added, "Faced with a clear misunderstanding of the basic expectations of a distinguished ambassador’s role as a national representative, the minister has ordered that he no longer have direct access to French government members."
This marks the second time Kushner has ignored a summons from French authorities. In August 2025, he was called in to explain after expressing concerns about rising hostile acts against Jews in France and criticizing French authorities for inadequate responses.
This ban significantly escalates diplomatic tensions between the longtime allies, the U.S. and France, under the current French government’s leadership.