The French far-right leader is betting that proximity to Trump’s movement can restore momentum before the 2027 presidential race

Éric Zemmour has found a warmer reception in Washington than he currently enjoys in much of Paris.

The French far-right commentator and founder of Reconquête is using a visit to the United States to embrace Donald Trump’s MAGA movement, presenting himself as the French politician most ideologically aligned with the new American right. Speaking in Washington during a trip to promote the English-language edition of Le Suicide Français, Zemmour argued that his movement and Trump’s share “major points of agreement” on immigration, national identity and opposition to what both camps describe as “wokism.”

For Zemmour, the transatlantic courtship is more than symbolic. It is part of a political repositioning effort ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election, where he is preparing a second run after his disappointing 2022 campaign. His bet is that MAGA’s return to power in Washington can give Reconquête a new sense of relevance at home — and help him reclaim space in a French far right increasingly dominated by Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National and Jordan Bardella.

Zemmour’s appeal to Trumpism follows a broader pattern among European nationalist parties, many of which have sought closer ties with American conservative networks. But unlike some French right-wing figures who remain cautious about openly associating with Trump, Zemmour has leaned into the comparison. He has praised the former and current U.S. president’s political instincts and adopted themes familiar to MAGA audiences: border control, cultural backlash, hostility to progressive social movements and a promise to defend national sovereignty against global elites.

The strategy also reflects the influence of Sarah Knafo, Zemmour’s close political ally and a member of the European Parliament, who has cultivated ties with Trump-world figures and promoted a more modernized, pro-business and pro-tech version of French nationalism. Zemmour and Knafo attended Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, a symbolic success for Reconquête, which secured visibility in Washington despite being far smaller than Le Pen’s party in France.

Yet the American embrace carries risks. Trump remains a polarizing figure in France, where anti-American reflexes, Gaullist traditions and skepticism toward imported political models run deep, even on the right. Marine Le Pen’s camp has often tried to normalize its image by avoiding associations that could make it appear too radical or too dependent on foreign ideological networks. Zemmour, by contrast, seems willing to accept that risk in exchange for access to the energy, media attention and donor-friendly aura of the U.S. conservative ecosystem.

His challenge is that MAGA admiration may not translate into votes. Zemmour’s 2022 presidential campaign began with heavy media attention but ended with a weak result, as many far-right voters returned to Le Pen when the election became a question of practical power rather than ideological provocation. Since then, Reconquête has faced internal tensions, defections and uncertainty over whether Zemmour or Knafo should become its main public face.

Still, Zemmour appears determined to use Washington as a stage for his political revival. By presenting himself as the French heir to Trump’s nationalist insurgency, he hopes to sharpen his profile before 2027 and distinguish himself from a French far right that is becoming both stronger and more crowded.

The question is whether French voters will see his MAGA alignment as proof of international momentum — or as another sign that Zemmour’s politics remain better suited to provocation than power.