France’s foreign ministry has indicated that U.S. envoy Charles Kushner should be restricted from government access after he reportedly failed to adequately address concerns regarding comments about an alleged “rise” of violence within France.
Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, was summoned to meet with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday evening, but reportedly did not attend the scheduled meeting.
Kushner cited a prior commitment and dispatched a deputy from the U.S. embassy in his stead.
This substitution prompted a strong response from the ministry, which accused Kushner of an “apparent failure to grasp the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission” and stated that Barrot had requested that Kushner “no longer be allowed direct access” to government ministers.
The diplomatic disagreement arose after the U.S. embassy in France posted comments on social media concerning the murder of far-right nationalist Quentin Deranque.
The post cautioned that “violent left-wing extremism is on the rise” in France.
Deranque, a 23-year-old mathematics student, succumbed to his injuries in hospital on February 14, two days after being assaulted by a group of masked individuals in Lyon. French government ministers from the center-right have attributed the attack to “far-left” militants.
The U.S. embassy’s remarks appear to have drawn criticism from the French government.
“We reject any use of this tragedy, which has plunged a French family into mourning, for political ends,” Minister Barrot stated over the weekend.
He further added, “We have no lessons to learn, particularly on the issue of violence, from the international reactionary movement.”
BBC News has contacted the U.S. embassy to France for comment.
Six men suspected of involvement in the fatal assault have been charged in connection with Deranque’s death. Additionally, a parliamentary assistant for a deputy from the radical left France Unbowed (LFI) party has been charged with complicity.
LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a potential contender in the upcoming presidential election, has asserted that his party had “nothing to do with this story” and condemned “all forms of violence”.
“We express our consternation, but also our empathy and compassion for [Deranque’s] family and friends,” he affirmed.
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