US Ambassador Charles Kushner was banned from meeting French officials after ignoring a summons over comments on a student’s murder in Lyon.
Tension Between France and USA
Charles Kushner did not appear at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, in response to this behavior, Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law was banned from meeting with representatives of the French government. In view of what appears to be a misunderstanding of basic expectations of an ambassador who has the honor to represent his country, the minister requested that he no longer have direct access to members of the French government.
France accuses Americans of interfering in its internal affairs. The tension between Paris and Washington was triggered by a post on social media by the US embassy in Paris. It expressed concern about events in Lyon and hope for the swift punishment of far-left activists responsible for the fatal beating of a 23-year-old student.
Murder of 23-Year-Old Student by Antifa in Lyon
The tragedy occurred on Thursday, February 12, when a group of nationalists organized a demonstration against a far-left conference dedicated to Palestine. The exact circumstances of the event are not yet known, but according to witness recordings and prosecutor’s findings, 23-year-old student Quentin Deranque was lynched by at least six people. He died in the hospital a few days later from his injuries. Seven people are under formal investigation for alleged involvement in the murder.
Political Reactions to the Murder
The case has taken on a political dimension due to the connections of the alleged perpetrators with Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s far-left. From a minute of silence in the National Assembly to the promise of punishment of the perpetrators by the Élysée Palace, the case of Quentin’s death is eliciting reactions from the highest levels of power.
“The far-left committed murder” – stated French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. The French right holds the far-left party LFI co-responsible for the tragedy. It is a deputy of this formation who is the founder of “Young Guard” – the paramilitary group involved in the student’s death, and an assistant to the politician is suspected of complicity in the murder.
Background on the Ambassador Dispute
“We do not accept lectures – especially on violence – from the reactionary international community” – commented the head of French diplomacy Jean-Noël Barrot, announcing the summoning of the US ambassador.
Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, was already summoned on another matter last year, but refused to appear at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was perceived in Paris as a provocation from Washington.
