"Death Of Right-Wing Youth Shows Radical Left Threatens Public Safety"...France Angered By U.S. Remarks

French Right-Wing Youth Quentin Killed in Group Assault by Left-Wing Activists
U.S.: "Reports He Was Killed by Left-Wing Armed Groups Are a Cause for Concern"
'Trump's In-Law' Ambassador Kushner Likely to Be Summoned

The death of 23-year-old French right-wing youth Quentin Dranc, who was killed in a group assault by radical left-wing activists, is escalating into a diplomatic dispute.

Macron Emmanuel, President of France. Agence France-Presse Yonhap News Agency

On the 22nd (local time), Yonhap News, citing the Associated Press, reported that "French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview with a local outlet that he would summon Charles Kushner, the U.S. ambassador to France, to lodge a protest over the U.S. State Department's comments on the incident."

On the 19th, the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism stated on X (formerly Twitter), "Reports that Dranc was killed by left-wing armed groups are a cause for concern for all of us," adding, "Violent radical leftists are on the rise, and this incident proves that they pose a threat to public safety." In response, Minister Barrot argued, "We refuse to use a tragedy that has plunged a French family into grief as a political tool."

Ambassador Kushner, a former real estate developer, is related by marriage to U.S. President Donald Trump. Last year, he also sparked tensions by sending a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron criticizing him over antisemitism issues. It is extremely rare for an ambassador to openly criticize the head of state of the host country, but the U.S. State Department defended him, saying, "Ambassador Kushner is doing an excellent job representing U.S. interests," drawing criticism for diplomatic discourtesy.

On the 21st (local time) in Lyon, France, a memorial protest was held for right-wing youth Quentin Dranc, who died after a group assault by far-left activists. Reuters and Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the incident in question occurred on the 12th at Sciences Po Lyon (Lyon Institute of Political Studies) in Lyon, southeastern France. At the time, a lecture was being held by a Member of the European Parliament from the far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI). Right-wing youths who opposed the holding of his lecture staged a protest, which led to a confrontation with LFI-supporting activists, and in the process, 23-year-old university student Dranc was beaten by a group and ultimately died.

Earlier, on the 18th, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is close to President Trump, also commented on the incident, saying, "An atmosphere of ideological hatred is sweeping through several countries," prompting President Macron to fire back, "Stop commenting on the affairs of other countries," in a war of nerves.

The incident is heightening tensions within French politics ahead of local elections next month. In particular, criticism is mounting against LFI. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said in an interview with France 2 on the 15th, "It is clear that far-left forces were behind this," adding, "Testimonies are pointing in that direction." Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin also said on RTL the same day, "It is clear that far-left forces killed him," and pointed out, "There are unfortunate cases where the rhetoric of LFI and far-left groups moves from social media into the real world and leads to uncontrollable violence."

President Macron expressed regret, saying, "In the Republic, no cause or ideology can justify murder. The very purpose of our institutions is to protect the free expression of opinions." LFI, however, drew a line, saying, "There is absolutely no connection between this incident and any political party."

Some have also brought up the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that occurred in the United States in September last year. On the 21st, at a protest organized in Lyon by a French far-right group, participants commemorated Dranc and raised their voices in condemnation of the radical left. About 3,200 demonstrators covered their faces with surgical masks and sunglasses and chanted slogans such as "Justice for Dranc" and "Antifa assassins."