France demands answers after US ambassador skips summons over extremist remarks

2026-02-24 - 10:42

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot expressed outrage Tuesday after US Ambassador to France Charles Kushner failed to attend a scheduled summons concerning remarks made about the death of a 23-year-old nationalist activist in Lyon. The summons followed a statement posted on the US Embassy's website and social media claiming Quentin Deranque was "killed by far-left militants" and warning that "violent left-wing extremism is on the rise." Diplomatic Protocol Breach "When one has the honor of representing one's country in France, one respects the most basic customs of diplomacy and responds to summonses from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Barrot told Franceinfo, describing the ambassador's absence as a "surprise." He warned that Kushner's failure to appear "will naturally affect his ability to carry out his mission in our country," adding that direct access to French government members would be revoked pending clarification. Rejection of Foreign Interference Barrot firmly rejected what he characterized as foreign interference in France's domestic political debate, stating that France has "no lessons to learn" regarding public order maintenance. He stressed that the dispute would not affect broader bilateral ties, noting France and the US are preparing to mark the 250th anniversary of their historic relationship this year. The incident follows recent tensions over US sanctions against French nationals and reflects growing friction in transatlantic diplomatic etiquette.