French Socialist Candidate Slams Trump Over Russian Energy Deal
French presidential candidate Raphaël Glucksmann criticizes Trump for easing Russian energy exports, framing it as a threat to European interests.
2 min read
Raphaël Glucksmann, the French Socialist Party’s presidential candidate, has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of being a ‘useful idiot’ for facilitating increased Russian diesel exports to global markets. Speaking at a POLITICO event in Paris, Glucksmann framed the decision as a direct threat to European security and sovereignty.
Accusations of U.S. Complicity in Russian Energy Expansion
Glucksmann criticized the Trump administration’s agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he claims has undermined European energy independence. ‘There is, at the head of the United States, someone who is either a useful idiot or an agent of the destruction of European strength and freedom,’ he said.
Glucksmann also emphasized that the Russian war in Ukraine is a direct threat to European nations, and he accused the West of having ‘delegated our sovereignty and our security to Washington’ for decades. This stance comes despite the U.S. being the largest single backer of Ukraine, with over 115 billion euros in direct aid provided to Kyiv, compared to significantly lower contributions from France and the EU.
France’s Continued Energy Dependence on Russia
Despite its rhetoric against Russian energy, France remains a major purchaser of Russian energy, particularly LNG. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), France is the EU’s second-largest importer of Russian LNG, with purchases reaching 349 million euros in June alone. In 2024, European countries spent more on Russian energy than they did on Ukraine aid.
Political Strategy and Electoral Position
Glucksmann’s comments align with his broader political strategy of positioning himself as the anti-Trump candidate in the 2027 presidential race. Following his victory in the Socialist Party primary, he has vowed to defeat the ‘far-right’ and ‘prevent the Trump supporters, the Putin supporters, the xenophobes, and the demagogues from seizing control of the Republic.’
Currently, Glucksmann is in fourth place in presidential election polling, with only around 10 percent support in the first round. In contrast, Marine Le Pen of the National Rally leads with over 35 percent of first-round voters. Glucksmann is also seeking to rally left and centrist voters by painting a ‘far-right’ threat, positioning himself as the only candidate who can defeat both Le Pen and the far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Source: Breitbart
