The State Department announced Tuesday that it is blocking five notorious European figures linked to the 'global censorship-industrial complex' from entering the U.S.
State Department officials say these five Europeans blatantly defied a May visa policy that bars anyone involved in suppressing protected speech in the U.S. from setting foot in the country.
"For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed several European figures for deliberately promoting censorship in the United States. AP
“The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship. Today, [the State Department] will take steps to bar leading figures of the global censorship-industrial complex from entering the United States.”
“We stand ready and willing to expand this list if others do not reverse course.”
The five Europeans now barred from entering the U.S. include former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton; Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate; Clare Melford, who heads the Global Disinformation Index; and Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, the leaders of Germany-based HateAid—figures the State Department says have played key roles in pushing censorship agendas on American platforms.
On Tuesday, Undersecretary of State Sarah Rogers publicly named the five Europeans blocked from entering the U.S., drawing attention to the administration’s crackdown on foreign figures linked to censorship.
“Our message is clear: if you spend your career fomenting censorship of American speech, you’re unwelcome on American soil,” she posted on X.
“Our targets are foreign, but you’ll notice that some collaborated with U.S. bureaucrats on Murthy-style speech suppression. Don’t worry: we’re pursuing transparency, truth, and reconciliation at the [State Department] too.”
"Murthy-style speech suppression" refers to the 2024 U.S. Supreme Court case Murthy v. Missouri, which exposed governments’ secretive attempts to control and restrict online free speech.
The Trump administration has long been at odds with the EU over its penalties targeting American companies. AFP via Getty Images
Rogers called Thierry Breton 'a mastermind of the Digital Services Act,' highlighting how he used the DSA to threaten tech mogul Elon Musk just before his interview with President Trump. Breton also initiated a controversial investigation into X in late 2023.
The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) sets sweeping rules for social media companies, targeting how they moderate content and control online speech.
Earlier this month, the EU hit X with a €120 million ($141 million) fine for allegedly breaking transparency rules under the Digital Services Act, sparking outrage from the Trump administration.
Musk had patched things up with Trump after their dramatic falling out earlier this year, and the president’s allies were irked by the Europeans targeting an American company in such a high-profile move.
Thierry Breton seemingly accused the Trump administration of McCarthyism after it barred him from entering the U.S. via REUTERS
Breton, along with numerous high-profile European voices, fired back at the Trump administration over the controversial fine.
“Is McCarthy’s witch hunt back? As a reminder: 90% of the European Parliament — our democratically elected body — and all 27 Member States unanimously voted the DSA,” Breton shot back.
“To our American friends: ‘Censorship isn’t where you think it is.’”
Technically, numerous Europeans fall under the Visa Waiver Program, meaning they may be able to enter the U.S. without a visa despite the ban.
It’s still unclear whether the pre-entry forms under the Visa Waiver Program will actually bar the five sanctioned Europeans from entering the U.S.
