French President Emmanuel Macron wrote to Donald Trump asking his US counterpart to lift sanctions imposed on officials including former European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote to Donald Trump asking his US counterpart to lift sanctions imposed on officials including former European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton

Macron Urges Trump to Reconsider Sanctions on European Officials Amid Transatlantic Tensions

French President Emmanuel Macron has formally requested U.S. President Donald Trump to lift sanctions imposed on European officials, including former European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton and International Criminal Court (ICC) judge Nicolas Guillou. In a letter published by La Tribune Dimanche, Macron argued that the sanctions, which include visa bans, undermine European sovereignty and judicial independence.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Breton in December 2025 for efforts to regulate online hate speech, which Washington criticized as "extraterritorial censorship." Macron countered that European digital regulations apply only within EU borders and do not target U.S. companies disproportionately. Similarly, the sanctions against Guillou, imposed in August 2025, stem from his role in the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli officials. Macron emphasized that such measures threaten the principle of judicial independence.

The request comes amid heightened transatlantic tensions under Trump's administration, which has adopted a confrontational stance on trade and regulatory policies. Macron warned that U.S. "threats and intimidation" against the EU—such as proposed tariffs on European goods and disputes over the Digital Services Act— risk deepening economic friction. He reiterated calls for the EU to strengthen its single market, diversify trade partnerships, and pursue "European preference" strategies to reduce dependency on external powers.

Macron also highlighted the need for EU-wide reforms, including the issuance of Eurobonds to fund green and digital transitions, though consensus among member states remains elusive. His outreach to Trump follows earlier attempts to engage the U.S. leader, including an invitation to meet in Paris after the Davos summit, though Trump's response remains unconfirmed.

As the EU navigates dual pressures from U.S. policy shifts and Chinese economic competition, Macron's letter underscores growing concerns over transatlantic alignment—and the potential for further regulatory and trade conflicts in 2026.