The French government's assertion that a scientist was denied entry into the United States due to his views on the Trump administration has been described as “blatantly false” by a U.S. official.
Despite ongoing concerns from French authorities regarding academic freedom, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, clarified that the scientist was turned away for reasons unrelated to his personal beliefs.
McLaughlin stated that the researcher possessed confidential information from the Los Alamos National Laboratory on his electronic device, in violation of a nondisclosure agreement, which he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal.
Philippe Baptiste, the French minister for higher education, reported that the unnamed scientist, who specializes in outer space research, was en route to a conference near Houston when he was denied entry. Baptiste claimed the denial was based on message exchanges found on the scientist's phone, where he expressed his “personal opinion” regarding President Trump’s scientific and research policies.
McLaughlin dismissed this characterization, asserting that any suggestion that the scientist's removal was politically motivated is "blatantly false." Further details regarding the scientist’s association with Los Alamos National Laboratory remain unclear.
Los Alamos National Laboratory is known for its role in developing the atomic bomb and currently serves as a leading research facility for the National Nuclear Security Administration, among other scientific initiatives. Laboratory representatives were unavailable for comment.
The scientist was affiliated with France’s National Center for Scientific Research. While representatives for the center indicated that the scientist preferred not to engage with the media, they did not respond to the Department of Homeland Security's allegations.
Baptiste, who previously led the French National Center for Space Studies before becoming minister in 2024, reiterated his belief that the scientist was targeted due to his private discussions and opinions about the Trump administration's policies. He acknowledged that while countries have the right to control their borders, the case was “extraordinarily atypical” and raised significant concerns.
This concern was echoed by the French Academy of Sciences, which stated that the scientist’s deportation “seriously undermines the fundamental freedoms of the academic world: freedom of thought, expression and travel.”