A French scientist was denied entry into the United States after immigration officers at an airport searched his phone and found messages criticizing Donald Trump and his administration.
Philippe Baptiste, France’s minister of higher education and research, told Agence France-Presse in a statement that the scientist was traveling to a conference near Houston on March 9 on assignment for the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) when he “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,” Baptiste added.
The Trump administration and DOGE leader Elon Musk have made huge cuts to scientific research budgets affecting researchers studying everything from cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s to artificial intelligence. Experts warned that the damage will last for years.
An AFP source told the outlet that US authorities accused the French researcher of “hateful and conspiratorial messages” and that the messages “reflect hatred toward Trump and can be described as terrorism.”
The researcher was also informed of a FBI investigation, but was told that “charges were dropped.” His professional and personal equipment were reportedly confiscated before he was expelled from the US.
“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,” Baptiste said.
