Brussels: A diplomatic row between the United States and the European Union has intensified after the US administration imposed visa bans on several prominent European citizens, prompting strong condemnation from the EU, France and Germany.
The Donald Trump administration has barred five European figures from entering the United States, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton. Others affected include Imran Ahmed, British CEO of the US-based Center for Countering Digital Hate; Anna-Lena von Hodenburg and Josephine Ballon of the German non-profit HateAid; and Claire Melford, co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index.
Brussels said the measures target individuals working to combat online hate speech and disinformation and described the bans as unjustified. The European Commission warned that it would respond “swiftly and forcefully” if necessary.
Washington has defended the move by claiming the individuals were involved in suppressing freedom of expression. The European Commission rejected this argument, stressing that freedom of expression is a core democratic value in Europe and that EU legislation aims to protect democracy by addressing hate speech and disinformation on digital platforms.
Thierry Breton was a key architect of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires major technology companies to tackle illegal content online. The legislation has drawn criticism from US officials and technology executives, particularly following the EU’s €120 million fine on Elon Musk’s X platform for breaches of online content rules. Musk has repeatedly clashed with Breton, once calling him the “tyrant of Europe”.
The visa bans follow warnings in the US National Security Strategy that Europe is facing “civilizational erosion” and needs to change course to remain a close US ally.
European Commission condemnation
A European Commission spokesperson said the EU “strongly condemns” the US decision, reiterating that freedom of expression is a fundamental right shared by Europe and the United States. The spokesperson added that the EU has the sovereign right to regulate economic activities within its jurisdiction and has formally sought clarification from Washington.
France and Germany respond
French President Emmanuel Macron described the move as an attempt to undermine European digital sovereignty, noting that the DSA was adopted through a democratic process. Breton, a former French finance minister and EU commissioner for the internal market from 2019 to 2024, was singled out despite his role in shaping EU law.
Germany also rejected the bans, saying sanctions against civil society activists were unacceptable and confirming that the two German nationals have the full support of the government. Berlin stressed that European digital laws are determined in Europe, not in Washington, and that describing EU legislation as censorship misrepresents Europe’s constitutional framework.
Civil society reaction
The Global Disinformation Index condemned the US action as an “authoritarian attack on freedom,” accusing the Trump administration of using state power to intimidate and silence critics. The organisation said the visa bans represented an extension of government-led censorship rather than a defence of free speech.
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