A source close to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reported that he received a call from US Ambassador Charles Kushner in which he pledged not to interfere in France's local affairs. The call comes the day after France prevented the American ambassador from meeting its ministers, and demanded explanations for his failure to comply with a summons whose aim was to clarify his statements regarding the killing of the far-right activist Kantin Duranc.
Published on: 02/24/2026 - 12:53 Last updated: 02/24/2026 - 18:20
The US Ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, expressed his desire not to interfere in French domestic politics, in a call he had with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, according to what a source close to the minister announced on Tuesday.
The call comes the day after France announced on Monday that it was taking measures to prevent Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, from meeting with its ministers. The decision was taken after the ambassador did not respond to his summons to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs against the backdrop of the US embassy in Paris republishing comments made by the administration of President Donald Trump about the killing of 23-year-old far-right activist Kantan Duranc.
According to the source, Barrow reminded Kushner of the reasons that led to his summoning, as “France cannot accept any form of interference in the public national debate or its politicization by the authorities of a third country.” The source added that Kushner "took note of this, expressed his desire not to interfere in our public discussions, and recalled the friendship between France and the United States."
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Kushner was previously summoned once because of his criticism of France's handling of incidents related to anti-Semitism. He was absent from that meeting as well, and another official was sent to represent him.
Relationships “will not be affected by this incident.”
Prior to the call, Barrow said on Tuesday that US Ambassador Charles Kushner must explain the reasons for his abstention from attending after he was summoned on Monday “so that he can resume his duties normally as ambassador to France.” But he stressed that relations between his country and the United States will not be affected by this incident.
The minister also indicated Paris's desire to raise the issue of US sanctions imposed on a number of European figures, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton.
A diplomatic source said that the ambassador apologized for not attending due to “personal commitments” and sent a high-ranking official at the embassy in his place.
Kantin Duranc died from a severe head injury, as a result of a violent attack by members of the far left on February 12, on the sidelines of a demonstration in the city of Lyon in central-eastern France.
France 24/AFP
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