The diplomatic conflict triggered by the denial of visas to enter the United States for the former European Commissioner for Internal Market of the European Union, Thierry Breton, and four other European citizens threatens to open a new dispute between Washington and Brussels, at the most critical moment of the peace plan negotiation for Ukraine. The five Europeans have been accused of being "ideologues" against American platforms for their role as promoters of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which combats misinformation and hate speech on the internet.
A spokesperson for the European Commission warned yesterday that the EU "will respond if necessary in a firm and decisive manner to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures." "Freedom of expression is at the core of vibrant European democracies," stated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "We are proud of it and we will defend it."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the denial of visas to the Europeans by stating: "The Trump Administration will not tolerate these blatant acts of extraterritorial censorship". U.S. Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy, Sarah Rogers, directly pointed to the Frenchman Thierry Breton as "the mastermind" behind the Digital Services Act and recalled his verbal clashes with Elon Musk.
The governments of France, United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain strongly criticized the American actions, described by President Macron as "intimidation and coercion measures aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty." Macron personally spoke with Thierry Breton upon learning the news and promised to "defend European independence and sovereignty."
French centrist MEP Nathalie Loiseau meanwhile called on Brussels to respond with its own list of senior American officials who will be denied entry to the EU, starting with U.S. Health Secretary Robert J. Kennedy Jr., "for spreading harmful false rumors against health."
Left-wing MEP and presidential candidate Raphael Glucksmann retorted to Trump reminding him that while he "kneels before Putin and cozies up to tyrants," Europe emerges as a champion of the "free world": "We are not a colony of the United States. We are Europeans and we must defend our laws, our principles, and our interests."
Breton himself defended himself and wondered if the Trump Administration's intention is to "reinstate McCarthy's witch hunts". The former French politician and businessman recalled how the Digital Services Act "was approved by 90% of the European Parliament, a democratically elected body, and unanimously endorsed by all 27 members." "To our American friends, I would say: censorship is not what you think it is," Breton interjected.
The other four affected by the visa denial are Imran Ahmed from the Center for Countering Digital Hate; Clare Melford from the Global Disinformation Index; Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon, both from HateAid. They have all been labeled as "radical activists" and warned of deportation if they set foot in the United States.
French authorities recalled how the visa conflict actually dates back to August when Washington denied entry to French judge Nicola Yann Guillou for his role in opening an investigation into possible war crimes against Israeli leaders at the International Criminal Court. The French jurists' club closed ranks in his defense, considering it as "the American war against Judge Guillou."
The Digital Services Act has become the new casus belli between Washington and Brussels, hours after the lengthy conversation between Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to revitalize Europe's role in the peace agreement for Ukraine. Macron recently announced his intention to "reestablish dialogue" with Vladimir Putin, which could materialize in the coming days.
The visa conflict was preceded this week by another direct confrontation of the Trump Administration with an EU country, Denmark, over its decision to appoint Republican Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, as the "new special envoy to Greenland."
Trump reiterated his territorial ambitions over the semi-autonomous region of Denmark, considering it strategically valuable for U.S. "national protection." Governor Landry stated that he considers it an honor to serve in "that voluntary position to have Greenland become part of the United States." Denmark described the appointment as "deeply concerning" and summoned the U.S. ambassador in Copenhagen.
Meanwhile, British activist Imran Ahmed, director of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) and close to Keir Starmer's government, decided to file a lawsuit in a New York court against representatives of the Trump Administration for the alleged "unconstitutionality" of any attempt at arrest and deportation.
Ahmed, one of the five Europeans affected by the visa conflict, currently resides in Washington with his wife and child and faces deportation. The activist clashed last year with Elon Musk over an investigation into the rise of racist, extremist, and antisemitic content on X. Musk labeled his organization as a "criminal group."