Trump Says 5-Year Ban on French Politician Seeking Office Is a “Very Big Deal”

French politician Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement conviction and five-year ban from seeking office stirs uproar in France, and Donald Trump has called it a “very big deal,” likening it to the situation in the US.

Key Takeaways

Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzling EU funds and barred from the 2027 presidential race.
Her sentence involves a prison term, fine, and a five-year ban from public office.
Donald Trump called the situation a “very big deal” and said it “sounds like” the US.
The National Rally party has called for demonstrations in response to the ban against Le Pen running for office.
Le Pen’s appeal could take years, but the ban is effective immediately.

Marine Le Pen Convicted, Banned

Marine Le Pen, French politician and member of the National Rally party, was convicted of embezzling European Union funds, and she has been hit with a ban preventing her from seeking office for five years. Le Pen was accused of misusing European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016. Her sentencing includes a four-year prison term, with two suspended, along with two years of home detention, and a 100,000-euro fine. This ban places France’s political arena in flux, opening the door for other right-wing contenders to vie for power.

The ban not only affects Le Pen but also members of her National Rally party, leading to widespread criticism across political lines. National Rally’s president, Jordan Bardella, deemed it “disproportionate, political, and partisan.” He urged for “peaceful, democratic protests” and announced a mobilization of the public. Bardella stressed loyalty to Le Pen, dismissing the charges as an “administrative disagreement with the EU.”

Trump’s Response

President Donald Trump addressed Le Pen’s situation, describing it as a “very big deal,” and paralleled it with the situation in the US. Trump highlighted the unexpected nature of the verdict, expressing that Le Pen, as a leading candidate, faced a ban against running for office.

“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,” Trump told reporters.

President Trump says Le Pen’s ban on seeking office in France ‘very big deal’ https://t.co/7m2AI8E6Bv

— The Hill (@thehill) April 1, 2025

Political Fallout and Protests

The National Rally party has called for nationwide demonstrations, protesting the court’s decision. Officials also reportedly planned a leafleting campaign and set up a petition. Meanwhile, Bardella and other leaders have condemned threats and insults against the judiciary as a result of Le Pen’s conviction and ban.