"The State has to be a facilitator and not an obstacle": France Should Be Inspired by Trump and Imitate His Bureaucracy-Shedding Initiatives

After returning to Paris from Washington to witness the inauguration of Donald Trump, Nicolas Conquer has been all over the place. (Il n'a pas chômé, they say in France…)

The French-American member of Republicans Overseas France (ROF) has an article in one of France's oldest (and most widely read) newspapers, he has been interviewed on Sud Radio, he held a speech on the MEGA MAGA podcast on Twitter X, and next Tuesday he will be the guest of Jean-François Mourtoux in a Paris suburb for an "exceptional" discussion.

#MEGAMAGA is a new tag on X: the second part acknowledges Trump's well-known mantra, while the first part copies "Europe" into his formula; and, indeed, "Make Europe Great Again" is what Nicolas Conquer's article in Le Figaro is all about.

In Le Figaro, Nicolas writes that "Unlike France, the United States understands that the State has to be a facilitator and not an obstacle":

Donald Trump's fight for administrative simplification should inspire France, which persists in favoring regulation rather than innovation, opines Nicolas Conquer, spokesperson for Republicans Overseas France.

  … While America seeks to restore its ability to be one step ahead, Europe persists in a systematic distrust of risk, success, and initiative. The spirit of innovation runs up against a regulatory wall designed more to control than to stimulate. In France, this inertia is glaring: standards and rules accumulate, administrative constraints weigh heavily on the economy, and entrepreneurs spend more time complying with the rules than innovating. 

  … A question of priorities: progress before bureaucracy! Administrative simplification is indeed an economic imperative. In the United States, Donald Trump has instituted a simple and common-sense, albeit revolutionary, measure: for each new standard implemented, ten others must be eliminated. A radical signal that contrasts with the administrative inflation that is paralyzing Europe and France in particular. 

 … Whereas the United States understands that the State should act as a facilitator and not as an obstacle, France persists in multiplying the levels of unnecessary control, unnecessary agencies, unnecessary authorizations, and unnecessary procedures. This model is not sustainable. … It is not a luxury that is being asked for, it is a question of economic survival.

… The future belongs to nations that innovate, not to those that get bogged down in absurd regulations.

«Contrairement à la France, les États-Unis ont compris que l’État devait être un facilitateur et non un obstacle»

Par Nicolas Conquer

Le combat de Donald Trump en faveur de la simplification administrative devrait inspirer la France, qui persiste à privilégier la réglementation plutôt que l’innovation, affirme Nicolas Conquer, porte-parole du Parti républicain américain en France.

 … Alors que l’Amérique cherche à réhabiliter sa capacité à avoir un coup d’avance, l’Europe persiste dans une défiance systématique vis-à-vis du risque, du succès et de la prise d’initiative. L’esprit d’innovation se heurte à un mur réglementaire conçu davantage pour contrôler que pour stimuler. En France, cette inertie est criante : les normes s’accumulent, les contraintes administratives pèsent lourdement sur l’économie, et les entrepreneurs passent plus de temps à se conformer aux règles qu’à innover. 

 … La France et l’UE débattent d’une énième capsule sur une bouteille, pendant que les États-Unis envoient des capsules spatiales récupérer leurs astronautes. Une question de priorités : le progrès avant la bureaucratie ! La simplification administrative est en effet un impératif économique. Aux États-Unis, Donald Trump a institué une mesure simple et pleine de bon sens, mais révolutionnaire : pour chaque nouvelle norme, dix doivent être supprimées. Un signal radical qui tranche avec l’inflation administrative qui paralyse l’Europe et notamment la France.

 … Là où les États-Unis ont compris que l’État devait être un facilitateur et non un obstacle, la France persiste à multiplier les niveaux de contrôle, les agences, les autorisations et les procédures inutiles. Ce modèle n’est pas soutenable. … Ce n’est pas un luxe, c’est une question de survie économique.

 … L’avenir appartient aux nations qui innovent, pas à celles qui s’enlisent dans des règlements absurdes.

Sud Radio (entre 21:45 et 40:04) : 

Budget 2025 / Scandale de l'USAid / Face aux ingérences l'Europe contre-attaque

Feb 7, 2025 #SudRadio #POULIN_SANS_RESERVE

Avec Benjamin Cauchy, chef d'entreprise, Nicolas Conquer porte-parole de Republican Overseas, Nicolas Bay député Européen Retrouvez Alexis Poulin sans réserve tous les vendredis de 12h à 13h sur #SudRadio.

🎙️ MEGA MAGA – ÉPISODE 13 🇺🇸
Trump impose sa ligne sur Gaza, démantèle USAID et interdit les athlètes trans dans le sport féminin !!! LET’S GOOO !! 🔥

•🇮🇱 Gaza : Trump surprend tout le monde – Pas un dollar US pour la reconstruction, pas un soldat américain déployé ! Vers un… pic.twitter.com/DkgH57LNGj

— Nicolas Conquer (@ConquerNicolas) February 5, 2025

Hundreds of French Charlie Kirk Fans Commemorate the TPUSA Founder's Death by the Seine River

Erik Svane, blogueur, et le chat Jixie en renfort du trumpisme français, 
Paris, 19 septembre 2025 © Wilson T

Will France end up getting a Turning Point Paris? asks Causeur's Lucien Rabouille hopefully as hundreds of right-leaning Frenchmen and Americans (plus one cat hailing from the Swiss Alps) flocked to the Lafayette statue on le Cours de la Reine by the Seine Friday to pay homage to Charlie Kirk (my photos at the bottom of this post; merci à Sarah pour le hyperlien).

In the words of a Frenchman, Causeur's Lucien Rabouille:

On Friday, September 19th, at 6 p.m., the statue of La Fayette, located a stone's throw from the Place de la Concorde and the Grand Palais, was feeling less isolated than usual. At its feet, around 500 participants had come to pay a Trumpian tribute to Charlie Kirk, the young star of American conservatism assassinated on September 10th in the middle of a speech. 

Halfway between a Trumpist liturgy and a Protestant revival, the atmosphere was decidedly American: star-spangled banners, a minute of silence, prayers, speeches punctuated with biblical references, quotes from Burke and Tocqueville… All punctuated by the American anthem, regularly performed by an Italian singer already in demand during the NBA tournament in Paris.

Organized in the urgency of emotion, the rally brought together the entire galaxy of French Trump supporters, familiar with Charlie Kirk's videos long before his assassination made him an icon of global conservatism. Philippe Karsenty, former deputy mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine and spokesman for the Comité Trump France, was among those who took turns at the microphone, followed by Kate Pesey, director of the Tocqueville Fellowship, which "perpetuates the intellectual legacy of Alexis de Tocqueville" by sending promising young people each year to discover the American political model. …/…

American Bible Culture and the Spirit of "I Am Charlie"

In France, politics and religion are readily separated. That evening, the right had tuned into American time and blurred the boundaries. Feminist activist Marguerite Stern, fist and rosary raised, spoke of Charlie Kirk's "martyrdom" and invoked his "mystical" presence, while drawing thunderous applause for Donald Trump's decision to classify Antifa as a terrorist organization. Randy Yaloz, for Republicans Overseas (an association that brings together expatriate members of the Republican Party), recalled Kirk's taste for tough debates—the young man had made confrontation in hostile academic terrain his trademark. One speaker recalled that Moses, who began his career as a stutterer, had to learn to speak well to convince Pharaoh: "One sharpens one's arguments better when ideas are confronted." 

 ... A singular syncretism: a touch of America's Bible culture mixed with France's Voltairian spirit. 

A Turning Point à la française ?

Franco-American Nicolas Conquer, master of ceremonies, actively disseminates the ideas of the American right in France. With his easily identifiable style and language, he has become the face and voice of French Trumpism since the 2024 elections. In his closing remarks, he called for Charlie Kirk's fight for freedom of expression and conservatism to be revived in France. Is there a need to consider a French-style Turning Point USA, named after the political platform founded by Kirk? From the podium, Conquer praised Kirk's ability to raise funds and disrupt traditional media. 

... Across the Channel, the project has already resonated with Turning Point UK. Why not here? "The sooner the better," confided one participant. "We need to organize ourselves," says Nicolas Conquer, who sees the GOP as a model of political organization capable of inspiring French and European right-wing parties, which are often too centralized and incapable of launching vast platforms for disseminating ideas.

"What if the best tribute to the deceased wasn't to extend his fight and his role model in France?" Lucien Rabouille ends by asking in Causeur. Among other media also present were Frontières and Europe 1. 

Just in case you think of this as an entirely positive event, understand that the ceremony was held outdoors precisely because, in spite of dozens of phone calls from Republicans Overseas France (whose members were instrumental in organizing the event), it was impossible to find a single church, protestant or catholic, which would accept to hold a ceremony inside their walls. ROF organizers were looking to approach a synagogue when word came that the Paris préfecture had agreed to allow the ceremony to be held near the Grand Palais.

Speaking of synagogues: Incidentally, Kirk — whose name means Church in Scottish and the Scandinavian languages (not in German, Don Trump Jr, where it is Kirche, although it obviously derives from the same root word origin) — vowed, after discussions with Dennis Prager (of The Rational Bible fame), to honor the Sabbath and its Jewish customs (no phones for 24 hours, etc…) every Saturday.

Florian et Laurent, Canadiens, familiers de l’Amérique du Nord ont sorti 
l’outfit trumpiste pour l’hommage à Kirk. Photo: Lucien Rabouille 
In the background, far left, sporting a MAGA cap: ROF's Paul Reen

Lucien Rabouille dans Causeur :

Vendredi 19 septembre, à 18 h, la statue de La Fayette, située à deux pas de la place de la Concorde et du Grand Palais, s’ennuyait moins que d’habitude. À ses pieds, environ cinq cents participants étaient venus rendre un hommage trumpiste à Charlie Kirk, la jeune star du conservatisme américain assassinée le 10 septembre en plein discours.

À mi-chemin entre liturgie trumpiste et revival protestant, l’ambiance était résolument américaine : banderoles étoilées, minute de silence, prières, discours ponctués de références bibliques, citations de Burke et de Tocqueville… Le tout rythmé par l’hymne américain, régulièrement interprété par une cantatrice italienne déjà sollicitée lors du tournoi de NBA à Paris.

Organisé dans l’urgence de l’émotion, le rassemblement a réuni toute la galaxie des trumpistes français, familiers des vidéos de Charlie Kirk bien avant que son assassinat n’en fasse une icône du conservatisme mondial. Au micro se sont succédé Philippe Karsenty, ancien adjoint à la mairie de Neuilly-sur-Seine et animateur du comité Trump France, puis Kate Pesey, directrice de la bourse Tocqueville, qui « perpétue l’héritage intellectuel d’Alexis de Tocqueville » en envoyant chaque année de jeunes gens prometteurs découvrir le modèle politique américain. …/… 

Biblisme américain et « Je suis Charlie »

En France, on sépare volontiers politique et religion. Ce soir-là, la droite s’était mise à l’heure américaine et brouillait les frontières. La militante féministe Marguerite Stern, poing et chapelet levés, évoqua le « martyre » de Charlie Kirk et invoqua sa présence « mystique », tout en faisant applaudir à tout rompre la décision de Donald Trump de classer les Antifa comme organisation terroriste. Randy Yaloz, pour Republicans Overseas (association qui regroupe les membres du Parti républicain expatriés), rappela le goût de Kirk pour les débats difficiles – le jeune homme avait fait de la confrontation en terrain universitaire hostile sa marque de fabrique. Un orateur rappela que Moïse, bègue à ses débuts, dut apprendre à bien parler pour convaincre Pharaon : « On affûte mieux ses arguments dans la confrontation d’idées. » 

… Singulier syncrétisme : un brin de biblisme américain mêlé à l’esprit voltairien français.

Nicolas Conquer, maître de cérémonie a eu l’occasion de 
rendre hommage à Kirk sur les médias ces derniers jours. 
Et si le meilleur hommage rendu au défunt n’était pas 
de prolonger son combat et son modèle en France ? 

Un Turning Point à la française ?

Le Franco-Américain Nicolas Conquer, maître de cérémonie, diffuse activement les idées de la droite américaine en France. Par son style et son verbe facilement identifiables, il est devenu depuis les élections de 2024 le visage et la voix du trumpisme hexagonal. Dans sa conclusion, il a appelé de ses vœux à reprendre en France le combat de Charlie Kirk pour la liberté d’expression et le conservatisme. De là à envisager un Turning Point USA à la française, du nom de la plate-forme politique fondée par Kirk ? À la tribune, Conquer a loué la capacité qu’avait Kirk à lever des fonds et à bousculer les médias traditionnels.

 … Outre-Manche, le projet a déjà trouvé un écho avec Turning Point UK. Pourquoi pas ici ? « Le plus tôt sera le mieux », confie une participante. « Il faut nous organiser », assure Nicolas Conquer, qui voit dans le GOP un modèle d’organisation politique capable d’inspirer les partis de droite français et européens, souvent trop centralisés et incapables de lancer de vastes plateformes de diffusion d’idées. 

In front of Paris's Lafayette statue

Along le Cours de la Reine on the right bank of la Seine in Paris

The Eiffel Tower on the horizon

 

As they walk by, two Eastern Europeans ignore 
the Fuck Kirk letters that some locofoco has 
printed beforehand on le Cours de la Reine

"Being right-wing kills" or, alternatively,
"Being right-wing is a deadly endeavour"

Two American ex-pats join the commemoration

A French woman has taken the Left's 2015
"I am Charlie" sign and added "Kirk" on the bottom

Echoing TPUSA itself, many attendees and speakers
hailed from youth organizations of French students
unhappy with the left's dominance of culture and institutions

Nicolas Conquer Travels Overseas to Attend Trump's DC Inauguration, Witnesses Musk's "Nazi Salute"

In his article for the Causeur monthly, Ce que j’ai vu à Washington (What I Saw in Washington), Nicolas Conquer recounts, as the title indicates, his week in the DC area after traveling from France across the Atlantic Ocean to witness the inauguration of Donald Trump.

A French-American member of Republicans Overseas France (ROF) with a great last name, Nicolas Conquer had adventures aplenty, visiting Mount Vernon (as George and Martha's home prepares for the nation's 250th anniversary), paying his respects at Arlington, and exercising his « god-given rights » by shooting guns with a son of Nicolas Sarkozy.

But Nicolas Conquer was also present at Capitol One to watch the Village People and to witness (cough) Musk's Nazi Salute:

J’attends trois heures dans la file d’attente aux côtés d’un juif ultra-orthodoxe, de sa femme et leur nouveau-né. On regarde ensemble la prestation de Musk, et son geste décrit comme un simulacre de salut nazi. Au moment où il tend son bras vers la foule pour lui offrir « tout son cœur », il n’y a pourtant aucune réaction dans la foule. Pas davantage chez mon interlocuteur qui aurait pu se sentir blessé. Un calme précaire toutefois : je connais le monde médiatique, je sais comment ce geste sera interprété. L’indignation ne tarde jamais.

"I spend three hours waiting in line alongside an ultra-Orthodox Jew, his wife, and their newborn baby. We watch Musk’s performance together, along with his gesture described as a recreation of the Nazi salute. When he extends his arm to the crowd to offer them “all his heart”, however, there is no reaction in the crowd. Certainly not from my neighbor who could have felt shocked. 'Tis but a precarious calm, however: I know the media world, I know how this gesture will be interpreted. Indignation is never long in coming."

What Is France in Need of in This Day and Age? Isn't It a Trump à la Française?

While Sébastien Laye believes that France’s economic collapse is inevitable and has been calling his country therefore nothing less than an Utter Merde-Show, his fellow author Nicolas Conquer — who has left his role as one of ROF's spokesmen (while remaining involved with the group) to become the founder of the Western Arc think tank — has just published a book saying that the solution is looking towards a French Trump. Or a Trump à la française, if you will.   

Subtitled "French Anger, American Mirror", Nicolas Conquer's book is described as follows by Fayard and by Amazon: 

America is not a model. It is a mirror. 

From the plains of the Midwest to the hedgerows of the Cotentin peninsula, the same anger rumbles, the same divide widens, the same yearning for a representative figure grows. Trumpism is not an American phenomenon. It is a symptom that is now ours [here in France]. 

A French-American citizen, a spokesperson for Republicans Overseas France, and a candidate in the Manche department, Nicolas Conquer has experienced the political realities on both sides of the Atlantic. He is not predicting the arrival of a "French Trump." He is proving that he is already on his way. 

Will you recognize him when he emerges? 

Fayard et Amazon :

L’Amérique n’est pas un modèle. Elle est un miroir.  

Des plaines du Midwest aux bocages du Cotentin, la même colère gronde, la même fracture s’élargit, la même attente d’incarnation monte. Le trumpisme n’est pas un phénomène américain. C’est un symptôme qui est désormais le nôtre.

Franco-américain, porte-parole de Republicans Overseas France, candidat dans la Manche, Nicolas Conquer a connu les réalités politiques des deux rives de l’Atlantique. Il ne prédit pas l’avènement d’un « Trump français ». Il prouve qu’il est en train d’arriver.

Saurez-vous le reconnaître quand il surgira ?

The book was reviewed in Valeurs Actuelles by Thomas Morel, while the founder of the Western Arc think tank appeared on the Les Français podcast (17-18 minutes).

The Socialist Nightmare: You Asked For It, New York — The City That Never Sleeps May Never Wake Up Again

New York seems ready to elect Zohran Mamdani, writes Nicolas Conquer in the Valeurs Actuelles weekly, declaring him to be "a mayor without experience, but with plenty of slogans." The "City That Never Sleeps" May Never Wake Up Again, adds the ROF spokesman. "Dear friends in New York,"what can one say, other than "you asked for it!" (Shoookhran for the Instalink, Sarah).

Entitled Zohran Mamdani, the Socialist Nightmare, Nicolas Conquer's VA article gives some pointed pointers about the Ugandan-Indian Muslim, son of a Marxist professor:

The outgoing mayor, Eric Adams, threw in the towel late in the game, leaving a city on the brink of collapse: subways have become danger zones, unsanitary conditions are rampant, migrants are housed in luxury hotels, and the police are demoralized. The “city that never sleeps” has transformed into a city suffocating under the strain. In this chaos, Mamdani promises free public transportation, a rent freeze, city-run grocery stores, a drastic reduction in police interventions, and another tax increase for the wealthiest citizens. …/…

From the Mayor of America to the Mayor of the “Great Replacement”

The contrast is striking. In 2001, Rudy Giuliani, “America's Mayor,” embodied firmness and dignity in the face of the chaos of September 11. Twenty-four years later, the world’s largest Jewish community after Israel—12% of New York City’s population—may be about to elect a mayor incapable of condemning the slogans of the “Global Intifada” chanted in the streets.

 … Mamdani is a product of his time and its system. Naturalized as an American citizen in 2018, he benefits from an electoral dynamic shaped by mass naturalization. In New York, 60% of foreign-born voters support him, while only 30% of native-born voters do. Without this new demographic, he would have no political presence. Here again, the parallel with France is striking: mass immigration always has electoral consequences. …/…

When Freedom is Veiled

A French politician recently suggested “bringing back” the Statue of Liberty. The idea seemed fanciful, not to say clownish. But at this rate, the statue itself will end up veiled. Green ideology—that of a conquering Islam and a repentant left—has crept into the Big Apple, as in other major American cities.

🗽 New York s’apprête à élire Zohran Mamdani, un maire sans expérience, mais plein de slogans.

La “ville qui ne dort jamais” risque de ne plus jamais se réveiller... Amis new-yorkais, vous l’aurez voulu !

📰Ma tribune pour @Valeurs https://t.co/4yTtdgNwmU

— Nicolas Conquer (@ConquerNicolas) October 30, 2025

"Trump Draws the Commercial Bazooka", Writes the French MSM: ROF's Conquer and Laye Head to TV and Radio Outlets to Defend the White House's Liberation Day Tariffs

ROF's Nicolas Conquer heads to BFMTV to defend the White House's Reciprocal Tariffs on what Donald Trump calls Liberation Day. 

The key thing to remember: these tariffs are a CEILING.  

Trading partners who lower their barriers will see these increases reversed. RECIPROCITY. 

Common sense, for true free trade.

L’essentiel à retenir : ces tarifs sont un PLAFOND. Les partenaires commerciaux qui abaissent leurs barrières verront ces hausses annulées. RÉCIPROCITÉ. Du bon sens, pour un vrai libre-échange. #Trump #LiberationDay

 

Droits de douane américains: "C'est un plafond, libre à nous de voir comment on peut favoriser des échanges égaux", affirme Nicolas Conquer (porte-parole des Republicans Overseas) pic.twitter.com/cSuWGBjCww

— BFMTV (@BFMTV) April 2, 2025

In the meantime, besides ruffling feathers on LinkedIn, ROF's Sébastien Laye was on La Matinale de Radio Courtoisie telling its listeners, as well as Liselotte Dutreuil and Alexandre de Galzain, that, regarding Donald Trump's tariffs, "The American economy will continue to grow and create jobs. It's better to do the hard things now to get results before the 2026 midterm elections." 

"L'économie américaine va continuer à croître et créer des emplois. Il vaut mieux faire les choses difficiles maintenant pour avoir des résultats en vue des élections de mi-mandat de 2026"

💥 "L'économie américaine va continuer à croître et créer des emplois. Il vaut mieux faire les choses difficiles maintenant pour avoir des résultats en vue des élections de mi-mandat de 2026" #DonaldTrump

🗣️ @SebastienLaye, conseiller économique du parti Républicain en France… pic.twitter.com/JykgB6CIQG

— Ligne Droite • La matinale de RC (@Ligne__Droite) April 3, 2025

Sébastien Laye, entrepreneur et conseiller économique du parti américain Républicains en France. Auteur pour Contribuables Associés d’un rapport intitulé La Simplification Administrative : sortir de l'enfer bureaucratique français et Richard de Seze, directeur de la rédaction de Radio Courtoisie.

On French Radio Station, GOP's ROF Member Does His Best to Conquer Nonsense-Spewing Democrat

On Sud Radio (South Radio), a French-American member of Republicans Overseas France (ROF, with moustache in gray vest) with a great last name, Nicolas Conquer, lets loose after he can no longer take the nonsense and the fairy tales of Fred Hoffmann (glasses), member of Democrats Abroad France.

Avec Nicolas Conquer, Porte-parole des Republicans Overseas & Fred Hoffman, Porte-parole des Democrats Abroad en France

 

French TV: "We Are Angry" About the Murder Attempt on Trump, But "We Aren't Surprised"

"On est en colère [...] maintenant, on n'est pas surpris": Paul Reen, président de "Republicans in France" réagit à l'attaque contre Donald Trump

L'ex-président Donald Trump, candidat républicain à l'élection présidentielle, a été évacué après avoir été visé par des tirs lors d'un meeting de campagne en Pennsylvanie ce samedi 13 juillet.

Paul Reen on the BFMTV channel (or on DailyMotion, merci à Anntoinette pour les photos) about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Here is the full video (Paul at 5:25/5:55, Nicolas Conquer at 2:00:44)… I have been looking for my own appearances on CNews and BFMTV (July 15 at 9:30 and 10:30, respectively), as well as for other TV appearances of members of Republicans in France (RIF), but without luck…

« Visé par des tirs, Trump blessé à l’oreille », revoir notre soirée spéciale - 14/07

C’est une image qui fera date dans l’histoire américaine. Donald Trump, est sorti blessé, mais sorti miraculeusement vivant, samedi soir lors d’une tentative d’assassinat à Butler, en Pennsylvanie. Le tireur présumé, âgé de 20 ans, a été abattu. La dernière information, selon la presse américaine, des explosifs auraient été retrouvés dans sa voiture. Un spectateur a également été tué, deux grièvement blessés. Comment cette attaque a-t-elle pu se produire ? Quelle motivation pour son auteur ? Quelles conséquences politiques, alors que nous sommes en période de campagne présidentielle américaine ?

On en parle avec : Benoît Ballet, envoyé spécial de BFMTV à Milwaukee, Wisconsin (États-Unis). Paul Reen, président de “Republicans in France”. Ulysse Gosset, éditorialiste international à BFMTV. Marjorie Paillon, journaliste spécialiste de la vie politique américaine. Christopher Mesnooh, avocat au barreau de New York, Washington et Paris. Guillaume Farde, consultant police-justice pour BFMTV. Jérôme Poirot, consultant BFMTV, ancien adjoint à la coordination nationale du renseignement. Chloé Giraud, journaliste à BFMTV. Le général Jérôme Pellistrandi, consultant défense pour BFMTV. André Kaspi, historien, spécialiste des États-Unis. Stéphane Bureau, consultant États-Unis pour BFMTV. Anne-Laure Banse, journaliste à BFMTV. Alain Bauer, professeur de criminologie au conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers. Nicolas Conquer, porte-parole des Republican Overseas France. Olivier Piton, avocat français installé aux États-Unis et auteur. Patricia Allemoniere, grand reporter spécialiste des questions internationales. Et Patrick Saint-Paul, rédacteur en chef du service International Le Figaro.

Calls Multiply in France for a French-Style First Amendment à la française

Obama et Macron : même combat, même vérité unique 

Obama and Macron want to “protect” democracy by muzzling it: censorship of activists supporting facts and reality, shadow-banning on X, fallacious editing on public broadcasts… It is time to strengthen and enshrine our freedom of expression with a French-style First Amendment. 

Thus writes Nicolas Conquer on Atlantico, in an article on freedom of expression titled France Needs a First Amendment. 

A formidable paradox of the present: liberals and democrats want to ban everything. From Obama to Macron, the rhetoric is the same: “regulate” social media to protect democracy. But from what, and above all, from whom? On June 20, 2025, Obama reiterated this at Stanford: “We don’t want diversity of facts.” What the former president—who has become, by default, the ideological leader of the Democratic Party—is challenging is not the fact itself, but its interpretation. In other words: establishing a single, authoritative truth. Orwell imagined such a ministry in 1984. On November 12, 2025, Macron echoed this sentiment on X: “It is important to discuss content and usage in order to regain control.” While platforms bow to political dictates and dissenting voices are criminalized, France needs a constitutional safeguard to guarantee freedom of expression. A French First Amendment.

Sur le sujet de la Liberté d’expression, Nicolas Conquer lance un appel sur Atlantico : la France a besoin d’un Premier Amendement.

Obama et Macron veulent “protéger” la démocratie en la muselant : censure de militant montrant le réel, shadowban de X, montages fallacieux de l’audiovisuel public… Il est temps de renforcer et de sanctuariser notre liberté d’expression par un Premier Amendement à la française.

Redoutable paradoxe du présent : les libéraux et démocrates veulent tout interdire. D’Obama à Macron,  même discours : “réguler” les réseaux sociaux pour protéger la démocratie. Mais de quoi, et surtout de qui ?Le 20 juin 2025, Obama l’a redit à Stanford : « We don’t want diversity of facts. ». Ce que l’ancien président – devenu par défaut commandeur idéologique du Parti démocrate – remet en cause n’est pas le fait, mais son interprétation. Traduction : instaurer une seule vérité autorisée. Orwell en avait imaginé le ministère dans 1984. Le 12 novembre 2025, Macron lui faisait écho sur X : « Il est important d’échanger sur les contenus et usages afin de reprendre la main. » Alors que les plateformes se plient aux injonctions politiques et que les voix dissidentes sont criminalisées, la France a besoin d’un garde-fou constitutionnel pour garantir la liberté d’expression. Un Premier Amendement à la française. 

Anti-Americanism in the 21st Century: Drama Queens on French TV Compare Attendees at the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service to "Fascists", "Religious Nuts", and Even "Taliban" Members, Reminding Them of "Nazi Rallies of the 1930s"

If you think — with good reason — that Some of the Liberal Media Reactions to the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service Were Insane (merci à Sarah Hoyt, aussi pour le hyperlien), and if you think — with good reason — that Iryna Zarutska and Charlie Kirk have exposed the media’s depravity (merci à Ed Driscoll), then you should see, and hear, the heights to which France's hysterical TV and radio channels climbed in their raving and ranting. 

After helping to organize an homage for Charlie Kirk in Paris two days before the TPUSA founder's memorial service, the ex-pat group Republicans Overseas France is back in the news, having decided to launch a major legal counter-attack. 

Indeed, during and in the wake of Sunday's memorial service, French TV channels were replete with a plethora of drama queens using the most foul language to describe the (entirely peaceful) crowds in Glendale, Arizona. You know the verbiage by now: fascists, Nazis, religious nuts, even members of the Taliban.

ROF collected a handful of the most depraved and insane comments in what can only be called a modern-day display of anti-Americanism (video at the hyperlinks):

• Appearing on France Info on September 21, former French Minister of Culture Aurélie Filippetti said of the Kirk Memorial event: “It inspires me with disgust and fear. All fascist movements have as a characteristic to victimize themselves and to instrumentalize their so-called heroes who died in battle” (The ministry of culture seemed determined to overlook the left's pantheon of larger-than-life heroes and martyrs during the past century, such as Lenin, Stalin, and Mao, not to mention Che Guevara.) 

• During the program C Politique broadcast on France Télévision’s France 5 on September 21, one Judith Perrignon declared, regarding the Charlie Kirk tribute: “American white supremacism is completely connected to Hitler’s racial ideology … The first time I watched the footage, I thought of the Nazi rallies that took place in the United States in the 1930s. There were large gatherings … The connection is still there.” Just as scandalous was the mere fact that the “C Politique” host, Thomas Snégarof, did not, in any way, attempt to contradict his guest, even partially.

• On September 22, during the program Les Partis Pris broadcast alive on TF1's LCI, Abnousse Shalmani said: "It was an evangelical mass of religious nuts — and I am carefully weighing my words — and all of this had nothing to envy of the Taliban before the launch of a crusade. Everything was soaked in an atmosphere of violence and a crusade barely contained…" (The word "crusade" comes from the word "cross" — thus, whether considered in a positive or in any other light, it only pertains to Christians; the word for Muslims and Islamists and other types of Taliban being "Jihad" — a word scrupulously avoided by the Frenchwoman born in Tehran.) In a registered letter on September 30, LCI responded to a ROF request for "un droit de réponse" (a right of reply) by turning it down. 

• Again on LCI, a former U.S. Ambassador to Finland, Charles Adams, compared Charlie Kirk’s death to the 1933 Reichstag Fire, which shortly preceded Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. A direct descendant of two of America's earliest presidents (John Adams and John Quincy Adams), the TDS-laden Democrat and vocal supporter of Barack Obama declared that “I would even say that for me this story of the murder, rightfully condemned, represents for Trump what the fire of the Reichstag represented for Adolf Hitler at the time. The parallel is absolute and obvious.”

Prior to that, the presenter of France Culture, Guillaume Erner, wrote an editorial called "Je suis Charlie." That lead to outrage in the journalists' union, la Société des journalistes de France Culture, and Guillaume Erner, a former writer at Charlie Hebdo no less (where the phrase originated in the wake of the 2015 shootings), felt he had no choice but to apologize when confronted by the union's denunciation: "By obscuring Kirk's extreme verbal violence, which contributes to endangering already vulnerable minorities, this post tends to elevate the influencer into a symbol of freedom of expression," said the SDJ, which fears that this stance will cast "discredit and suspicion on our entire network" in a context of "repeated attacks" against public broadcasting. As for the title, France Culture decided to change it.

Of course, this brings us all the way back to square one: the murder of someone like Charlie Kirk is What Is Bound to Happen When You Constantly Refer to Your Adversaries as "Fascists" and as "Threats to Democracy".

As PJMedia's Matt Margolis points out,  

The left’s habit of slapping labels like “fascist” or “Nazi” on its political opponents isn’t just name-calling; it’s a green light for violence. [Greg] Gutfeld spelled it out with brutal clarity: “You label someone a fascist or a racist or a Nazi, it makes you free to attack them, and that has been the ideology from the start.”

Glenn Reynolds adds that

“Nazi” just means “political opponents the left has marked for death.” We all know that now.  

As for Ed Driscoll, he quotes John Nolte: 

“Remember this: The corporate media, Democrats, and Hollywood don’t call us Nazis because we’re Nazis. They call us Nazis to justify their ongoing murder campaign against us.”

You assassinate us. Then you celebrate our assassination. Then you call us evil while we mourn.

There will be no unity. https://t.co/BkBpkEZ9X7

— John Ocasio-Rodham Nolte (@NolteNC) September 22, 2025

 
All of which led one ROF spokesman to appear on Morandini's CNews show Tuesday morning, in order to inform the French public that the group of ex-pats was filing complaints with ARCOM (l'Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique or the Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication, France's administrative agency responsible for both audiovisual and digital communications).

Nicolas Conquer, spokesperson for Republicans Overseas France, was Jean-Marc Morandini's guest on "Morandini Live" on CNews. He notably discussed a segment broadcast Sunday evening on C Politique on France 5 …

While discussing the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, journalist and novelist Judith Perrignon said on the show: "The first time I saw the footage, I thought of the Nazi rallies that took place in the United States in the 1930s. There were large gatherings."

"I jumped out of my seat when I heard this comparison," declared Nicolas Conquer, "while we were attending this tribute, which was magnificent and poignant. We see this contrast, which is disconnected and truly an aberration […] The moderator, Thomas Snégaroff, doesn't correct his guest. He agrees with her. It demonstrates this ideological bias."

He added: "I'm obviously contacting ARCOM. We're also going to file a complaint for incitement to hatred against a group — Christian conservatives, MAGA supporters. By normalizing this comparison with Hitler and Nazism, they're targeting activists. This is extremely serious!"

"We are calling on Arcom to take responsibility rather than tracking down the statements of [exclusively right-wing] activists. It should monitor what is said about the public service," he concluded.

As Randy Yaloz and Paul Reen prepare the official statements of Republicans Overseas France, allow us to inject a bit of humor, with the Babylon Bee and Cynical Publius providing a touch of tongue-in-cheek sarcasm 
— CNN: Charlie Kirk Memorial 'Mostly Hateful' and 
Nazi Rally Inspires Millions To Forgive And Love Their Enemies; plus:

That's true. I totally remember that rally where Hitler publicly forgave the plotters who tried to assassinate him and then he called upon them to give their hearts to Jesus.

In fact, that was pretty standard at most Nazi medals.

History remembers.

— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) September 21, 2025

Is Leo XIV in Favor of Donald Trump's Policies or Against? ROF Spokesman Joins the TV Debate About the Vatican's Choice of an American Pope

 
ROF's Nicolas Conquer heads to BFMTV to join the debate about the selection of a new pope (from 40:10 min until minute 58 (finish)).  

Among the TV viewers was ROF's Paul Reen:  

Naturally BFM had an agenda to try and create political controversy between Trump and the new Pope, emphasizing a quote from the Pope’s brother claiming that the Pope thinks the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction on immigration and that Trump’s deportation of illegal criminals is unjust (even though there is a clip circulating of when the Pope was a Cardinal warning about mass immigration into Europe). 

Nicolas handled it all very well stating that Trump was delighted with the selection of the first American Pope, but reminded viewers that Trump was elected to do a job and is doing it and that a growing number of Catholics are supporting his policies while he also supported the independence, grace, and hopeful longevity of Pope Leo…

In the U.S., the superfluous is revoked to salvage the essential; In France, on the other hand, the superfluous is subsidized to conceal the essential

In the United States, what is superfluous gets mercilessly cut; In France, what is superfluous gets readily financed.

In an op-ed for Le Diplomate, Nicolas Conquer speaks about courage in the political sense, contrasting two ways of reforming government, in France and in Trump's America. Shutdown à Washington, panne de courage à Paris. There are so many good quotes here that it's hard to pick only one.

Shutdown in Washington, lack of courage in Paris: "In the United States, we cut the superfluous. In France, we finance it."

The United States is living in slow motion, but debating. France is spending lavishly, but remaining silent. The American shutdown acts like a cruel mirror: over there, we embrace confrontation; here, we subsidize resignation.

When the Americans cut the superfluous, France maintains the useless

For two weeks, part of the American administration has been at a standstill.

America is tearing itself apart, but debating. It embraces disagreement. And this is what distinguishes Washington from Paris: when the United States blocks to defend principles, France unblocks to buy social peace.

 … But behind the partisan tumult, Uncle Sam is asking a simple question: what should the state do, and at what cost?

In France, this question is never asked. When the state runs out of money, it borrows. When it goes into debt, it taxes. And at the end of the day, it's still John Doe who pays. Reform means only spending differently, never spending less. Our leaders dream of public efficiency, but reject state restraint. The result: a country on permanent budgetary life support, spending 57% of its national wealth without ever asking why.

The State, a business without a customer

The American crisis reminds us that a state, like any organization, must be able to question itself. In the private sector, a useless business closes. In the public sector, it becomes an acquired right.

 … In the United States, the superfluous is revoked to save the essential; In France, on the other hand, the superfluous is subsidized to conceal the essential. 

Shutdown à Washington, panne de courage à Paris : « Aux États-Unis, on coupe le superflu. En France, on le finance. »

Les États-Unis vivent au ralenti, mais débattent. La France dépense sans compter, mais se tait. Le shutdown américain agit comme un miroir cruel : là-bas, on assume la confrontation ; ici, on subventionne la résignation.

Quand les Américains coupent dans le superflu, la France entretient l’inutile

Depuis deux semaines, une partie de l’administration américaine est à l’arrêt. 

 … Les Républicains veulent réduire les dépenses, les Démocrates du Sénat refusent de voter la loi de finances temporaire — la Continuing Resolution — tant que leurs priorités ne sont pas financées. Parmi elles : plus de 1500 milliards de dollars supplémentaires pour prolonger des programmes d’aide hérités de l’ère Obama, y compris pour des immigrés en situation irrégulière. Oui, vous avez bien lu ! Donald Trump, lui, théâtralise le bras de fer : il sait que ses adversaires se piégeront par leurs propres calculs politiciens. Règle élémentaire de l’Art de la guerre : ne jamais interrompre un ennemi en train de commettre une erreur. 

L’Amérique se déchire, mais débat. Elle assume le désaccord. Et c’est bien ce qui distingue Washington de Paris : quand les États-Unis bloquent pour défendre des principes, la France débloque pour acheter la paix sociale.

 … Mais derrière le tumulte partisan, l’Amérique pose une question simple : que doit faire l’État, et à quel prix ?

En France, cette question n’est jamais posée. Quand l’État manque d’argent, il emprunte. Quand il s’endette, il taxe. Et à la fin de la journée c’est encore Nicolas qui paie. Réformer consisterait à dépenser autrement, jamais à dépenser moins. Nos gouvernants rêvent d’efficacité publique, mais refusent la sobriété étatique. Résultat : un pays sous perfusion budgétaire permanente, qui dépense 57 % de sa richesse nationale sans jamais se demander pourquoi.

 … L’État, cette entreprise sans client

La crise américaine rappelle qu’un État, comme toute organisation, doit pouvoir se remettre en cause. Dans le privé, une entreprise inutile ferme. Dans le public, elle devient un droit acquis. 

 … Les États-Unis suspendent le superflu pour sauver l’essentiel. La France, elle, subventionne le superflu pour masquer l’essentiel.