The United States is considering delaying or even blocking the appointment of Aurélien Lechevallier as France’s next ambassador to Washington, according to four sources familiar with the matter. No final decision has been taken, but the move follows a public French criticism of the US human rights record.

The dispute ignited after France’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva posted on social media that “the US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore.” The message condemned Washington for joining Russia, North Korea, and seven other countries in voting against a four-year extension of the mandate of Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights. Turk has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and has called for investigations into deaths in US immigration custody.

“The United States is very disappointed in the irresponsible and disrespectful rhetoric from the French,” a State Department official said, adding that Washington was “responding appropriately.” Two of the sources said the French post had provoked genuine anger among senior Trump administration officials, while two others indicated that efforts were under way to de-escalate tensions. A French diplomatic official countered that support for Turk’s renewal “does not preclude close dialogue with the United States” and maintained that such differences do not undermine bilateral cooperation.

The row has deepened fissures between the historic allies, already strained by disputes over tariffs, the Iran conflict, and US pressure on NATO defence spending. Even before the human rights spat, Washington had been irritated by public remarks from French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who criticised a State Department programme funding groups promoting “civilizational self-confidence” in Europe. On Monday, the US delegation walked out of a Security Council meeting on Ukraine as France took the floor, with Deputy Ambassador Dan Negrea accusing Paris of “disingenuous grandstanding.”

France had expected Lechevallier to assume his post by September. The nomination process now faces uncertainty, though no formal steps to reject or delay the candidate have been confirmed.