La présidente des députés du Rassemblement national, Marine Le Pen, au Salon de l'agriculture, le 1er mars 2025 à Paris. (BEHROUZ MEHRI / AFP)

The Political Tightrope of Marine Le Pen and the Republicans

France’s far right party Rassemblement National led by Marine Le Pen finds itself in an uncomfortable position following a heated exchange between former US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington While the French political class largely condemned Trump’s behavior Le Pen and her party minimized the significance of the event

This stance has put them in a delicate balancing act trying to maintain their nationalist Euroskeptic identity while distancing themselves from accusations of being pro Russian or overly aligned with Trump

A Controversial Stance on the Trump Zelensky Clash

During a recent visit to the Salon de l'Agriculture Le Pen expressed her regret over the lack of a strong and independent French voice on the Ukraine issue She downplayed the tense exchange between Trump and Zelensky calling it a normal diplomatic interaction

Similarly Jean Philippe Tanguy RN’s second in command in the French National Assembly dismissed the controversy In an interview with RTL he argued that the US political landscape often features such heated discussions

This approach by Le Pen and RN is in stark contrast to other political leaders in France Olivier Faure head of the Socialist Party criticized Le Pen for being the only politician who failed to condemn Trump’s treatment of Zelensky He described the former US president’s actions as an attempt to humiliate Ukraine and pressure European nations into submission

RN’s Euroskepticism and Opposition to a European Nuclear Defense

Le Pen’s party remains deeply skeptical of European integration particularly in defense matters Recently French President Emmanuel Macron suggested discussions on a shared European nuclear deterrent RN leaders strongly opposed this idea with Le Pen insisting that France’s nuclear arsenal should remain entirely under national control

Jordan Bardella president of RN went further labeling any nuclear sharing agreement with European countries as national betrayal His comments made on RTL reflect RN’s longstanding opposition to deeper European military cooperation

RN’s Complicated Relationship with Russia and Trump

Le Pen has long faced accusations of being too close to the Kremlin To counter these claims RN repaid a controversial Russian bank loan ahead of schedule in September 2023 However investigations by The Washington Post and Mediapart have continued to reveal past financial and political ties between RN officials and Moscow

Regarding Trump RN has taken a cautious approach While they celebrated his 2016 victory recent statements suggest they are wary of his unpredictability especially after he threatened to impose tariffs on European goods

French Political Backlash Against RN’s Position

RN’s reluctance to criticize Trump and its ambiguous stance on Ukraine have reignited criticism from across the political spectrum Macron’s party Renaissance accused Le Pen of repeating Kremlin talking points Former President François Hollande went even further calling Le Pen a friend of those seeking to tear Ukraine apart referring to both Putin and Trump

These accusations come at a crucial moment for RN which has been trying to reposition itself as a more mainstream party ahead of the 2027 presidential elections

RN Postpones a Key Meeting Amid Growing Scrutiny

In a sign of their discomfort RN postponed a major conference on the future of Europe under a potential second Trump presidency The event originally scheduled for March 6 in Paris was meant to gather European and American nationalist leaders RN cited the need for more clarity on the political situation as the reason for the delay

This move suggests that the party is struggling to navigate its positioning between nationalist allies like Trump and broader European skepticism toward Russia

The Trump Zelensky clash has exposed deep fractures within France’s far right over Ukraine Russia and European defense As RN attempts to redefine its image it faces increasing pressure to clarify its stance on these major geopolitical issues With the 2027 French presidential elections approaching Marine Le Pen will need to carefully balance her nationalist rhetoric with growing demands for a firm stance on Ukraine

For more on this topic read FranceTVInfo’s analysis on RN’s position on Ukraine and BFMTV’s coverage of Marine Le Pen’s reaction to the Trump Zelensky meeting