France's foreign ministry is seeking to block US envoy Charles Kushner from government access. The move follows comments made by Kushner, father of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, regarding alleged political violence in France.
Kushner, the US Ambassador to France, was summoned to meet Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot but failed to attend, sending a deputy instead. The ministry cited an "apparent failure to grasp the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission" and requested Kushner "no longer be allowed direct access" to ministers.
The diplomatic dispute originated from a US embassy social media post concerning the murder of far-right nationalist Quentin Deranque. The post suggested "violent left-wing extremism is on the rise" in France. The French government has rejected the narrative, calling it a political exploitation of a tragedy and stating they "have no lessons to learn, particularly on the issue of violence, from the international reactionary movement."
Deranque, a 23-year-old student, died after an assault in Lyon. Six men have been charged in connection with his death, with a parliamentary assistant for the radical left France Unbowed party also charged with complicity. The party's leader has denied any involvement and condemned violence.