Donald Trump and Elon Musk have again expressed support for Marine Le Pen, French far-right leader recently convicted of embezzling European Union funds and barred from running in the 2027 presidential election.
“FREE MARINE LE PEN,” declared the U.S. President on his social media network Truth Social late Thursday night.
Le Pen, who has long been seen as a leading contender for France’s top job, was found guilty on Monday of using EU funds inappropriately between 2004 and 2016. A Paris court sentenced her to four years in prison – two suspended, and two under house arrest with electronic monitoring. She also faces a €100,000 fine and a five-year ban from holding public office.
Le Pen leads the National Rally party in France, which is known for its nationalist views and anti-immigration stance. Over the years, she has faced several other legal challenges, including accusations of hate speech and financial misconduct.
Trump quickly criticized the verdict, calling it a politically motivated attack. In a statement on Monday, he drew comparisons to his own legal issues, saying, “She was the leading candidate. That sounds like this country. That sounds very much like this country.”
Trump was convicted in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn actress, making him the first convicted felon to win the U.S. presidency.
“I don’t know Marine Le Pen, but do appreciate how hard she worked for so many years,” he continued. “Just before what would be a big victory, they get her on a minor charge that she probably knew nothing about — Sounds like a ‘bookkeeping’ error to me.”
Trump’s Vice President, JD Vance, echoed this view, telling Newsmax, “They’re trying to throw her in prison and throw her off the ballot. Look, that’s not democracy.”
Le Pen has called the ruling a “purely political decision” and has promised to appeal. Her lawyer has stated that the legal fight is far from over.
Trump’s latest comment, posted on Truth Social doubles down on his support. “The Witch Hunt against Marine Le Pen is another example of European Leftists using Lawfare to silence Free Speech, and censor their Political Opponent, this time going so far as to put that Opponent in prison,” he wrote.
Because he sentence has been suspended, Le Pen will not spend time in prison for these charges.
Elon Musk added his voice to the fray with a repost on the social media network he owns, X: “Free Le Pen,” he wrote, attaching Trump’s message. “When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents,” he wrote earlier this week.
Many on Europe’s far right have also shown support for Le Pen, including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, Dutch politician Geert Wilders, and even the Kremlin.
However, legal experts and French officials point out that the charges against Le Pen were backed by solid evidence, and her defense didn’t really dispute the main allegations.
