The Charles Kushner has assured Jean-Noel Barrot that he will not interfere in France’s domestic affairs, following a diplomatic dispute triggered by the US envoy’s social media comments about rising violence in the country.
The two officials spoke by phone on Tuesday, after Barrot blocked Kushner from accessing government ministers due to his apparent failure to respond personally to a summons on Monday evening. Kushner had cited a prior engagement and sent a deputy instead. Sources say the pair plan to meet face-to-face in the coming days, though neither has commented publicly on the call.
“[Barrot] reiterated the reasons that had led to the summons: France cannot accept any form of interference or manipulation of its national public debate by the authorities of a third country,” a member of Barrot’s team told French media. “The ambassador took note and expressed his willingness not to interfere in our public debate.”
The row began when the US embassy in Paris posted on social media regarding the murder of far-right nationalist Quentin Deranque, warning of “violent left-wing extremism” in France. Deranque, 23, died in hospital on 14 February after an assault in Lyon by a gang of masked men, which officials blamed on far-left militants. The French government condemned the US comments as politicising a tragedy.
Barrot criticized Kushner for failing to appear in person at the foreign ministry, calling it a breach of basic diplomatic protocol and stating that foreign countries must not interfere in France’s national political debate. The US embassy described the subsequent phone call as “frank and amicable,” emphasizing the shared commitment to cooperation.
Six suspects linked to the fatal assault have been charged, including a parliamentary assistant affiliated with the radical left party France Unbowed (LFI) and members of the now-banned group La Jeune Garde. LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon condemned all forms of violence and distanced his party from the attack.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron convened a meeting at the Élysée Palace to review violent action groups with political links, with reports indicating that the government has started proceedings to shut down branches of La Jeune Garde that continue to operate despite the ban.
