Charles Kushner, the U.S. ambassador to France, was prevented from having direct contact with French government ministers after he failed to appear at a summons from French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrault.
Kushner was summoned earlier this month over his comments regarding the death of French far-right activist Quentin Delanc, but “did not appear in court” on Monday, according to a statement from France’s foreign ministry, Quai d’Orsay.
“In the face of this clear misunderstanding of the fundamental expectations of an ambassador’s mission, the minister has requested that he no longer have direct contact with French government officials,” the statement said.
Mr. Kushner will be allowed to continue to perform his duties and have “diplomatic exchanges” with officials.
The standoff deepened Tuesday when Mr. Barot said the U.S. ambassador’s failure to appear on Monday “will obviously impact his ability to carry out his duties in our country.”
France’s foreign minister said Kushner’s actions had “no impact on the relationship between the United States and France,” but insisted he was seeking an “explanation.”
“We do not accept under any circumstances that a country can intervene in our national affairs. This is the clarification we need,” Barot told French public broadcaster France Info.
“The tragedy of Quentin Delanque’s death has had a deep impact on the French people and his family. What we have said is that we refuse to politicize this tragedy,” Barot added.
CNN has reached out to the U.S. Embassy in France and the U.S. State Department for comment.
On February 12, Quentin Delanque, 23, who suffered severe head injuries during a brawl in Lyon, died two days later, and the Trump administration said his death was the result of left-wing violence.
On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in France shared an
“A violent radical left is on the rise, and its impact on Quentin DeRank’s death illustrates the threat it poses to public safety,” the X-Post reported.
The deadly scuffle was caught on video, showing several masked people kicking and punching the man as he fell to the ground, sending shock and anger across France.
Authorities have charged two people with murder in connection with Delanque’s death, and a total of 11 people have been arrested.
France’s foreign minister previously said he would summon Kushner after labeling Kushner’s comments on the case as “interference” in an interview with radio station France Inter.
The incident also sparked a diplomatic spat between France and Italy, after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Delanque’s death was caused by “groups associated with left-wing extremism” and accused “ideological hatred sweeping several countries.”
This is not the first time Kushner, the father of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, has failed to appear in court despite being subpoenaed amid criticism from French authorities.
In August 2025, the Foreign Ministry summoned Kushner after he accused the French government of “lack of sufficient action” to combat anti-Semitism.
French diplomatic sources told CNN at the time that Kushner was not in Paris, and that the US chargé d’affaires was summoned to the ministry’s headquarters in Paris in Kushner’s absence.
