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 killing of a far-right activist in Lyon.
Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner -who is married toDonald 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 clashes between far-right supporters and radical-left activists 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 diplomatic source.
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 had earlier said the incident showed political violence must be treated as seriously as terrorism.
Its counter-terrorism bureau added 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.
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".
What began as a violent street confrontation has now spiralled into one of the most serious diplomatic disputes between Paris and Washington in recent years.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
