Trump Responds After Prominent French Politician Barred From Seeking Office for 5 Years

French politician Marine Le Pen faces a five-year ban from seeking office due to embezzlement, prompting President Donald Trump to call the situation a “very big deal.”

Quick Takes

Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement involving EU funds.
She has now been barred from running for office for the next five years, likely keeping her from participating in the 2027 French presidential race.
Donald Trump recently commented on the ban, appearing to liken it to his legal challenges.
The situation spotlights political tensions in France, especially involving the National Rally party.

Le Pen’s Legal Troubles Stir Political Chaos

Marine Le Pen, French politician and member of the National Rally party, has been convicted of embezzling European Union funds, a verdict that includes a four-year prison sentence. Two years will be suspended, and the other two spent under home detention. She is further fined 100,000 euros and barred from office for five years, likely preventing her from running in the 2027 presidential election despite being predicted as a front-runner.

The embezzlement case revolves around the misuse of EU funds meant for parliamentary assistants, which were reportedly used to pay party staff in France without personal enrichment to those accused. Le Pen plans to appeal, potentially delaying the verdict’s punitive measures but not her political ban.

Donald Trump Weighs In

President Donald Trump offered his perspective on Le Pen’s ban from office, appearing to suggest similarities to his own legal dilemmas. Trump has argued on a number of occasions that the cases against him were politically motivated and suggested that Le Pen’s situation is what is happening in the US.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “That big deal, that’s a very big deal. I know all about it. And a lot of people thought she wasn’t going to be convicted of anything. And I don’t know if it means conviction, but she was banned for running for five years and she was the leading candidate. That sounds like this country, it sounds very much like this country.”

Reactions in France and Beyond

The conviction leaves room open for a challenging race among right-wing politicians in the upcoming presidential race. National Rally is pushing for nationwide demonstrations against Le Pen’s ban, with the party’s president, Jordan Bardella, calling the decision “disproportionate, political, and partisan.” Additionally, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has vocalized his support for Le Pen, urging peaceful protests. Officials have also discouraged the public from threatening or insulting judges involved in the case.

Bardella, perceived as a potential successor to Le Pen, pledges loyalty without replacing her candidature. Instead, he launched a petition to gather support for Le Pen, fostering the RN’s image as patriotic and reasonable amidst the controversies. Marine Le Pen highlighted her commitment to protecting the right to vote and maintaining the nation’s stability.

The National Rally is deploying a communication campaign to address the conviction, emphasizing the party’s view of the situation as an administrative disagreement with the EU, rather than criminal behavior.