Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced strong support for Marine Le Pen, the French far-right leader who was recently convicted of embezzlement and barred from running for office for five years. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the ruling as a politically motivated "Witch Hunt" and likened Le Pen’s legal troubles to his own.
“FREE MARINE LE PEN,” Trump wrote on Friday, condemning the Paris court’s decision, which he claimed was based on a minor infraction. He argued that Le Pen, long a dominant figure in French politics, was being unfairly targeted just as she was poised for electoral success in 2027.
Le Pen, leader of the National Rally (RN) party, was sentenced earlier this week to four years in prison—two of which are suspended—along with a €100,000 ($108,000) fine. The court found her guilty of misusing European Union funds, a ruling that has shaken the French political landscape. The presiding judge, Bénédicte de Perthuis, described the case as a severe violation of democratic principles.
Le Pen has dismissed the verdict as a politically motivated attack, vowing to appeal the decision. “The rule of law has been completely violated,” she claimed in a television interview.
Trump’s backing of Le Pen is part of a broader trend of his administration showing solidarity with European far-right figures. Vice President JD Vance has expressed support for Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, while Trump’s close ally, billionaire Elon Musk, has also condemned Le Pen’s conviction. Musk, posting on X, argued that left-wing politicians were weaponizing the legal system against their opponents.
Trump’s administration has also criticized legal actions against other European far-right politicians, including in Romania, where a court nullified the presidential victory of nationalist candidate Calin Georgescu over concerns of Russian interference. The ruling barred Georgescu from running in the upcoming re-election.
