Trump Demands Le Pen's Release, Calls French Court Ruling a "Witch Hunt

Former US President Donald Trump has called for the "freeing" of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, labeling her ban from running for office a "witch hunt." This follows a court ruling in Paris that found Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds to pay party staff.

Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally party, was once considered a frontrunner for France's 2027 presidential election. The court's decision has now banned her from holding office and imposed a four-year prison sentence, with two years under house arrest and the other two suspended. Le Pen has denied all charges.

On his social media platform, Trump criticized the court case, describing it as an example of European leftists using "Lawfare" to silence free speech and censor their political opponents. He compared Le Pen's situation to his own experiences with legal proceedings, consistently portraying himself as a target of politically driven prosecutions.

Trump expressed his appreciation for Le Pen's efforts, highlighting her perseverance despite past losses. He suggested that the charges against her were minor and that she likely had no knowledge of them. He concluded his post by stating that the situation is "all so bad for France and the Great French People" and demanded that she be freed.

The judge in the case stated that Le Pen's actions constituted a serious attack on democratic rules. Le Pen left the court during the verdict and later described the ruling as a political decision, claiming that the rule of law had been violated. Trump's support for Le Pen aligns with his pattern of backing other European hardline politicians.