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Ivanka Trump's father-in-law is the US ambassador to France.
14:02, Tue, Feb 24, 2026 Updated: 14:19, Tue, Feb 24, 2026
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 US ambassador Charles Kushner failed to attend a summons from Paris over explosive comments about the killing of a far-right activist in Lyon.
The envoy, Charles Kushner, is the father of Jared Kushner, who is married to Donald Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot summoned him to explain US statements blaming "violent radical leftism" for the killing of 23-year-old activist Quentin Deranque. Deranque died from head injuries after clashes between far-right supporters and radical-left activists in the French city of Lyon earlier this month. But Kushner did not attend the meeting, citing "personal commitments" and instead sending a senior embassy official in his place. France reacted furiously, declaring the ambassador had failed to meet the basic duties expected of a foreign envoy.
U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner (Image: AP)
Officials announced he would no longer be granted direct access to members of the French government, though he may continue routine diplomatic exchanges.
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.
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.
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.
Kushner took up his post in Paris last year and has already clashed with French officials over accusations the government was failing to tackle antisemitism.
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