France’s Foreign Ministry has formally demanded clarification from U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner following his unexpected absence from a scheduled diplomatic meeting. The incident marks the second time Ambassador Kushner has failed to attend a summons from French authorities.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot characterized the ambassador’s absence as a breach of fundamental diplomatic protocols, expressing his ‘surprise’ at the development during a broadcast interview with France Info. The meeting was intended to address U.S. commentary on France’s internal political matters following the death of far-right activist Quentin Deranque in Lyon.
According to diplomatic sources familiar with the matter, Ambassador Kushner cited ‘personal commitments’ as justification for his non-attendance, instead dispatching a senior embassy official to represent him. This pattern of behavior has drawn criticism from diplomatic professionals, including former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela Charles Shapiro, who emphasized that responding to foreign ministry summons constitutes a fundamental obligation of diplomatic service.
The current diplomatic tension originated when the U.S. Embassy in Paris reposted statements from the Trump administration commenting on political violence in France following Deranque’s death during clashes between radical-left and far-right groups. Minister Barrot explicitly stated that France ‘does not accept that foreign countries can come and interfere in, then insert themselves into, our national political debate, whatever the circumstances.’
Despite the diplomatic friction, French officials have indicated that bilateral relations between the nations remain unaffected. However, Barrot noted that the incident would impact Ambassador Kushner’s operational effectiveness within France. The French government has already implemented measures restricting Kushner’s access to ministerial-level officials.
Ambassador Kushner, a 71-year-old multimillionaire real estate developer and former attorney, received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump in 2020 after previously pleading guilty to multiple federal charges including tax evasion and witness tampering. His appointment represented Trump’s preference for placing loyalists and family associates in key diplomatic positions, as evidenced by his comment to Paris Match magazine that ‘It’s a great thing because he’s in our family.’