US grant for MAGA-aligned groups in Europe excludes French applicants over election fears
The $1 million to $3 million program targets democratic resilience groups, while U.S. officials cite fears of foreign interference and election sensitivities.
- The State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor grant program will exclude French organizations ahead of next year's presidential election, citing sensitivities over potential foreign interference, according to two sources.
- President Donald Trump's administration has sought to support far-right parties across Europe, accusing centrist leaders of "civilizational erasure"; DRL officials previously traveled to Paris to support Marine Le Pen after a court barred her from office over alleged "lawfare."
- The DRL program offers between $1 million and $3 million for democratic resilience initiatives. In July, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reacted angrily, stating, "France and the Europeans will not tolerate any attempt at foreign interference."
- Concerns over a proposed French law strengthening penalties for online disinformation caused United States officials to fear funding conflicts, despite the United States and France trading $160.9 billion in goods and services in 2024.
- Washington has yet to accredit France's next ambassador following public criticism of United States human rights records, and one applicant said they might relocate their organization to Brussels to qualify for future funding.
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12 Articles
The creation by the U.S. State Department of an "independent journalism consortium" in Europe, funded by a $1 million grant to produce reports on immigration, civilizing values and national sovereignty, is explicitly aligned with the Trump administration's foreign policy objectives, including support for right-wing and nationalist parties across Europe. The State Department would maintain "substantial participation" in the project, including the…
Jerusalem Post
The Straits TimesUS grant for MAGA-aligned groups in Europe excludes French applicants over election fears
The decision reflects a recognition in Washington that funding MAGA-aligned organizations in France could jeopardize extensive economic ties between the two countries.
The State Department will not fund French organizations after Paris warned of possible interference in the 2027 presidential election.
The US decided to exclude France from a funding initiative designed to advance the objectives of Donald Trump’s government on the European continent. The action is based on the concern that economic support for groups linked to the MAGA movement could be interpreted as an external intervention in the French presidential elections planned to ...
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