France pushes back against MAGA political meddling
Deutsche Welle
February 26, 2026
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France has taken a strong stance against perceived political meddling by U.S. envoys, with a French magistrate revealing that American officials tried to influence internal affairs during a meeting in April 2025. Magali Lafourcade, head of France’s human rights commission, reported that U.S. diplomats Samuel D. Samson and Christopher Anderson raised concerns about the ongoing trial of Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right Rassemblement National party, which could prevent her from running in the next presidential election. The officials reportedly suggested the trial was politically motivated due to Le Pen’s opposition to President Emmanuel Macron. Lafourcade emphasized that the investigation into Le Pen was thorough and concluded after a decade, with her conviction for embezzlement of EU funds.
The U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) published in December 2025 further revealed an apparent alignment between American interests and far-right European movements, which Trump administration officials have been actively supporting behind the scenes. This strategy has raised concerns among French authorities, who view such actions as foreign interference. In response, France’s Foreign Ministry announced a new strategy to counter disinformation and protect its sovereignty, including the creation of an “ironic” social media account, “French Response,” to combat false narratives.
Critics of these allegations, such as Nicolas Conquer of Republicans Overseas France, argue that U.S. engagement with European political figures is legitimate diplomatic activity. However, French officials remain cautious, particularly after the Trump administration’s history of controversial actions, including targeting journalists and organizations critical of its agenda. The timing of France’s response—just one week after Trump’s inauguration—underscores the growing tensions between the two nations over issues of sovereignty and external influence.
This situation highlights the broader challenge of balancing international diplomacy with domestic political integrity. As global powers like the U.S. increasingly engage in influencing foreign politics, countries like France are stepping up their defenses to protect their democratic processes from external interference. The case underscores the delicate balance of
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Originally published on Deutsche Welle on 2/26/2026