French Tourist Denied US Entry For Text Messages Critical Of Trump
A French scientist traveling as a tourist to the USA to attend a scientific convention in Texas was denied entry and sent back to France after US border agents found messages critical of Donald Trump on his mobile phone.
French Tourist Denied Entry To USA When Officials Find Anti-Trump Text Messages On His Mobile Phone
US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have a carte blanche right to search your electronic devices when coming into the USA (DHS claims this is “integral to keeping America safe”). On March 9, 2025, a French scientist traveling to Houston (IAH) to attend a conference was asked to hand over his phone to DHS officials for further examination.
Philippe Baptiste, France’s Minister of Higher Education and Research, issued a statement explaining what happened:
“I learned with concern that a French researcher who was traveling to a conference near Houston was denied entry to the United States before being expelled.
“This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because the researcher’s phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy.
“Freedom of opinion, free research, and academic freedom are values that we will continue to proudly uphold. I will defend the right of all French researchers to be faithful to them, while respecting the law.”
US officials accused the scientist of “hateful and conspiratorial messages” and deported him. Baptiste now is inviting American scientists to France, saying, “Many well-known researchers are already questioning their future in the United States. We would naturally wish to welcome a certain number of them.”
A couple of thoughts here. US Vice President Vance traveled to Germany last month and lectured European leaders about free speech, lamenting, “In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat” and described multiple examples of curbs on free expression Vance deemed alarming.
How is this not a “do as I say, not as I do” approach? Are we really to the point where those critical of King Donald” (his words, not mine) will be expelled?
“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
–President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/IMr4tq0sMB— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 19, 2025
(not a meme…from the actual White House X account)
I’ll simply say that I hope this incident was an aberration and will not become the new norm. God forbid that people may have varying opinions on public officials and policy on either side of the Atlantic. If the US truly starts trying to silence those who oppose the policy positions of the current administration, we are no better than the banana republics who do the same thing…
image: DHS