France summons US ambassador over comments about death of far-right activist
France Calls on US Ambassador Over Remarks on Far-Right Activist’s Death
France has demanded the presence of the U.S. ambassador following remarks made about the death of a far-right activist. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that the embassy’s commentary on the incident should be addressed, calling it “interference.” The comments sparked a diplomatic reaction, as the death of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old far-right figure, drew criticism from the Trump administration.
Details of the Fatal Brawl
Deranque died two days after sustaining severe head injuries during a confrontation in Lyon on February 12. The incident was captured on video, showing masked individuals attacking a man on the ground. The footage caused significant public outrage. French authorities have charged two people with murder and arrested a total of 11 individuals linked to the event.
“We are summoning the US ambassador to France because the embassy issued a commentary on this event which concerns the national community. We reject any interference in this event,” Barrot said during an interview with France Inter.
US Embassy’s Response
The U.S. embassy in France shared an X post from the Counterterrorism Bureau, highlighting reports that Deranque “was killed by left-wing militants, should concern us all.” The statement emphasized the growing threat of violent radical leftism, linking it to the activist’s death.
Rising Concerns Over Left-Wing Extremism
The incident has intensified discussions about ideological conflicts. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni joined the criticism, accusing groups tied to left-wing extremism of causing Deranque’s death and condemning the spread of ideological hatred across multiple nations.
Previous Summoning of Kushner
This is not the first time Charles Kushner has faced diplomatic pressure. In August 2025, the French Foreign Ministry summoned him after he criticized the government’s handling of antisemitism. The current summons follows similar accusations of interference in a domestic matter.
