Emmanuel Macron says that Donald Trump’s academic repression threatens the United States economics and democracy

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Emmanuel Macron has warned that Donald Trump’s repression of U.S. scientific research threatens the United States economics and democracy, as the French leader and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, made researchers a pitch to come to Europe.

“No one could have thought that the world’s greatest democracy, whose economic model is based on science, innovation and capacity … having dipped this innovation more widely than its European colleagues, I would make this mistake. But here we are” Macron He said a conference at the University of Paris Sorbonne on Monday.

“Without free scientific research, we lose … pillars of our societies that are the very heart of western liberal democracies, first of all, of which it is our relationship with the truth,” said the French President.

It Trump The administration has launched unprecedented repression at Universities in the United States and seeks to reduce federal funding and delete research on subjects such as vaccination and climate change.

Speaking ahead of Macron in Sorbonne, von der Leyen proposed a financial package of 500 million euros to spend in 2025-2027 “to make Europe a magnet for researchers” and support those who choose to move to the continent.

Von der Leyen did not mention the United States or Trump by name, but said that “open and free” science was Europe’s “call card”.

“We have to do our best to defend it, now more than ever,” he said. “Europe must remain the home of academic and scientific freedom.”

Macron also promised additional € 100 million for initiatives to attract researchers to France by the end of 2030, although neither he nor von der leyen gave details on how the funds would be used.

Macron was explicit in his criticism of the United States Administration, as he reiterated his call to greater scientific sovereignty in Europe.

“Sometimes we failed because it was so comfortable to be in hand with the Americans. Many Europeans had a strong conviction (which) we would never be abandoned. It’s like us, but that’s not true,” he said.

The stop between the Trump Administration and the US universities has alarmed many administrators and researchers, as the President has intensified attacks on US institutions that his supporters consider too progressive. The administration has also revoked foreign student and researchers visas.

After Trump’s repression, the United Kingdom government is Preparing -to launch A scheme of 50 million pounds for Woo International Research Talent in Britain with transfer research and funding, according to the people who were reported on the plans.

Macron and Von der Leyen sought to present a vision of free scientific research, citing the role that science played in the structuring of European society since the Renaissance through the time of illustration.

The French President also linked attacks on expertise to the rise of conspiracy theories and misinformation that could fracture societies. He quoted the eighteenth -century French philosopher Voltaire to warn that believing in a “revealed” truth and banning research would jeopardize the “capacity of the society of disagreement, together.”

Europe has struggled for decades to compete with the United States in research and innovation due to the bureaucracy, the least funding and the less developed links between academic research institutions and the private sector.

France, in particular, is the home of many most important scientific universities, but many of its graduates have left for larger opportunities in the United States, leaving the continent a lack of champions in technologies, including cloud computing and AI. European leaders now see an opportunity in the deep changes that were dragged through the North -American System.

“We need to make it easier and attractive to come to Europe for research,” said Von der Leyen, citing the need to accelerate entry processes for scientists and researchers and initiatives to link highly qualified immigrants to institutions.

“We are deciding to be the continent where universities are pillars of our societies and our way of life … where global talent is welcomed,” he added. “Progress thrives in freedom, openness and collaboration.”