France: US Ambassador Summoned Over Activist Killing & Political Fallout

The U.S. Ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, declined to meet with French officials after being summoned by the government.

In response, France has revoked Kushner’s direct access to French government members, according to a statement from the French Foreign Ministry.

Kushner will, however, be allowed to continue carrying out his diplomatic duties, officials said.

Comments on Far-Right Activist’s Death

The situation stems from statements made by representatives of the U.S. State Department following the death of French far-right activist Quentin Deranque.

In messages posted on Friday, U.S. Officials pointed to what they described as “violent radical leftism.”

“When you choose to kill people for their beliefs instead of overtyde them, you have placed yourself outside of civilization,” wrote Sarah Rogers, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, on X.

Charles Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, who is the son-in-law of Donald Trump.

Macron Asks Meloni to Stay Out

The State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau wrote that “violent radical leftism is on the rise.”

The bureau added that the role such groups allegedly played in Deranque’s death demonstrates the threat they pose to public safety.

The message was shared on X by the U.S. Embassy in France.

The French government has responded strongly to the comments.

“We reject any attempt to exploit this tragedy for political ends,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told French media on Sunday.

The message was shared on X by the U.S. Embassy in France.

The French government’s response signals a growing diplomatic rift.

“We reject any instrumentalization of this tragedy, which has plunged a French family into mourning, for political ends,” said Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to French media on Sunday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni similarly commented on the death, calling it “a wound for all of Europe,” according to LeMonde.

This prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to ask Meloni to refrain from commenting on French domestic affairs.

Follow more news from France:

Deranque Died After Altercation

Twenty-three-year-old Deranque died after sustaining head injuries following an altercation in Lyon earlier this month.

Video footage of the incident shows several individuals kicking and punching a man on the ground, sparking widespread shock and anger in France.

The demonstration took place near a conference center where Rima Hassan, a member of the far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), was speaking.

According to early reports, eleven people have been arrested in connection with the incident, all allegedly linked to the far-left group “Jeune Garde.”

Two individuals have been charged with murder, while a third, a parliamentary assistant with LFI, has been charged with complicity, Reuters reported.

The investigation is ongoing, and it remains unclear who inflicted the fatal injuries.

Published February 23, 2026, at 5:54 PM Updated February 24, 2026, at 10:04 AM