Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law plunged in diplomatic row | World | News
French President Emmanuel Macron during a previous visit to the White House (Image: Getty)
Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law has been barred from meeting government officials as tensions between the French and US governments exploded. The extraordinary snub came after Emmanuel Macron’s government summoned US ambassador Charles Kushner to a meeting in Paris over controversial comments about the death of a far-right activist in Lyon.
Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner – who is married to Donald Trump’s eldest daughter Ivanka – was called in by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to explain US statements blaming “violent radical leftism” for the death of 23-year-old activist Quentin Deranque. Deranque died from head injuries following an incident in the French city earlier this month, but Kushner did not attend the meeting, citing “personal commitments” and sent a senior embassy official instead, according to a source.
U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner (Image: AP)
Paris reacted furiously: “In light of this apparent failure to grasp the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission and the honour of representing one’s country, the minister (Barrot) has requested that he (Kushner) no longer be allowed direct access to members of the French government.”
The US State Department’s counter-terrorism bureau had earlier claimed that “violent radical leftism is on the rise” and posed a threat to public safety.
French ministers accused Washington of interfering in domestic affairs and attempting to politicise a criminal investigation.
The killing has heightened tensions across the country ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election, with thousands marching in Lyon under heavy police security.
Kushner had previously been summoned in August over criticism of France’s handling of antisemitism but also failed to attend.
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A protester holds a placard in Strasbourg on February 22, 2026, honouring far-right activist Quentin (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The row widened after Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni weighed in, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to urge her to stop “commenting on what happens in other countries”.
The incident has now spiralled into one of the most serious diplomatic disputes between Paris and Washington in recent years.
The White House has yet to publicly respond to France’s decision to restrict the ambassador’s access.
Kushner will still be permitted to carry out his ambassadorial duties and maintain “exchanges” with officials, according to the French foreign ministry.
However, the move effectively sidelines him from high-level political contact at the heart of Macron’s government.
He has not been expelled from France and will remain in post as US ambassador in Paris. Instead, the restriction bars him from face-to-face meetings with ministers, limiting him to lower-level diplomatic contact.
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The dispute is the most hostile action yet taken by Paris against the Trump administration over what it sees as interference in its domestic politics.
Officials in France have repeatedly objected to US criticism of the country’s handling of security and social tensions.
Washington has not yet issued an official response to the restriction on its ambassador.
The Express has contacted the White House for comment.
