France Calls Out U.S. Diplomats for Meddling in Business Over Trump’s DEI Rollback
France isn’t happy with U.S. diplomats after a letter surfaced suggesting that Trump’s crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies could extend beyond American borders.
According to French media, major companies in France received a letter from a U.S. Embassy official stating that Trump’s executive order, which eliminated DEI initiatives in the federal government, also applies to U.S. government contractors no matter where they’re based. The letter reportedly asked companies to confirm they weren’t running DEI programs that might conflict with U.S. anti-discrimination laws. Those that refused to comply were asked to explain why.
France’s Minister for Equality, Aurore Bergé, wasn’t having it. She slammed the move as an attempt to impose a “diktat” on French businesses and said the government was keeping a close eye on the situation. She also mentioned that many French companies had no intention of responding to what she called a “sort of ultimatum.”
“It’s out of the question that we’ll stop our businesses from promoting social progress,” Bergé said, adding that plenty of companies planned to stick with their existing policies despite U.S. pressure.
The U.S. Embassy in Paris hasn’t commented on the matter yet. But for now, it looks like France is standing firm against what it sees as unnecessary interference from across the Atlantic.
France Pushes Back Against U.S. Efforts to Impose Trump’s Anti-DEI Measures Abroad
