U.S. ambassador Kushner banned from meeting French government over summons no-show

U.S. ambassador Kushner banned from meeting French government over summons no-show Charles Kushner, the father of Trump's son-in-law Jared, was accused of a "misunderstanding of the basic expectations of an ambassador." He's the latest U.S. envoy to anger his hosts. Charles Kushner failed to show up when summoned to explain comments made by the Trump administration that France objected to. Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google Feb. 24, 2026, 6:53 AM EST By Alexander Smith and Jean-Nicholas Fievet Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 Historically the job of American ambassadors posted to friendly countries has been to quietly smooth over disagreements where they arise. The envoys dispatched to Europe by President Donald Trump, however, are increasingly finding themselves at the heart of controversies themselves. France demanded an explanation Tuesday from Charles Kushner, the American ambassador in Paris , for why he failed to show up when summoned to explain comments made by the Trump administration that France objected to. The State Department had said it was concerned that “violent radical leftism is on the rise” after the killing of a French far-right activist. Add NBC News to Google ‘Ukraine stands’: Ukraine’s ambassador marks four years since Russia’s invasion 08:07 In response, France has barred Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared, from meeting any French officials. “When these explanations have taken place then the U.S. ambassador in France will naturally regain access to members of the French government,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told the broadcaster France Info early Tuesday. Until then, Kushner's ban “will naturally, affect his capacity to exercise his mission in our country,” Barrot said. Quentin Deranque, 23, a far-right activist, died from brain injuries last month after he was beaten during left-right violence on the margins of a student meeting in the French city of Lyon. Seven pe...