French President Emmanuel Macron posted on social media on the local time of the 24th, stating that France condemns the United States for imposing visa restrictions on five individuals, including Thierry Breton, former European Commissioner, and describing these measures as tantamount to intimidation and coercion.
The US Department of State issued an announcement on the 23rd, imposing visa restrictions on five people including Thierry Breton, former European Commissioner, and barring them from entering the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on social media that the five individuals placed under the visa ban had spearheaded organized actions to coerce US internet platforms into conducting content censorship. Rubio also stated that the US is ready to expand the list at any time if the relevant individuals refuse to change their stance.
On the same day, Breton responded that the US refusal to issue visas to him and the other four individuals constituted a political persecution. “Is McCarthy-style political persecution back?” Breton wrote on social media. “To our American friends: Censorship (on our side) is not what you think it is.”
Breton served as the European Commissioner for the Internal Market starting in 2019 and resigned in September 2024.
