Getting banned from a country is always awkward, but when that country is the United States and you're a former top European Union official, it becomes a full-blown diplomatic incident. That's exactly what happened to Thierry Breton, the architect of Europe's Digital Services Act, who found himself on the Trump administration's no-entry list over claims he tried to censor American social media.
The Visa Ban and Its Targets
The U.S. didn't hold back. Visa restrictions landed on Breton and four anti-disinformation campaigners, with Washington accusing them of pressuring tech giants like Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) (GOOG) Google and Meta Platforms (META) to silence American voices. According to reports, Secretary of State Marco Rubio laid out the administration's position clearly: these individuals "have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose."
The other people caught in this dragnet include Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, German anti-disinformation activists affiliated with HateAid. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers framed the bans as drawing a "red line" against what she called the extraterritorial censorship of Americans.
Breton Fires Back
Breton wasn't about to take this quietly. On Tuesday, he posted on X that "90% of the European Parliament — our democratically elected body — and all 27 Member States unanimously voted the DSA." His message to Washington was pointed: "To our American friends: Censorship isn't where you think it is."
It's a fascinating clash of perspectives. From Brussels' viewpoint, the Digital Services Act represents legitimate democratic lawmaking designed to hold tech platforms accountable. From Washington's current perspective, it looks like European bureaucrats trying to control what Americans can say online.
Broader Immigration Policy Turbulence
This visa dispute isn't happening in isolation. The Trump administration has been navigating choppy waters on immigration policy throughout 2025. Back in October, unions and universities filed lawsuits to block a proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, arguing the astronomical cost would illegally undermine a program that's essential to U.S. technology and research sectors.
Even earlier, in August, USCIS received instructions to examine "anti-American" sentiments among green card and work permit applicants. The policy treats certain affiliations or beliefs as potential grounds for denial, even when applicants otherwise meet all legal requirements. Policy experts raised concerns that the vague language could give officials sweeping discretion to reject petitions based on subjective judgments.
Whether you see these moves as protecting American interests or overreach depends largely on where you sit, but the legal challenges suggest the courts will have plenty to say about it.