Bangladesh, April 6 -- US President Donald Trump has once again found himself at the center of a transatlantic controversy-this time, for his vocal defense of Marine Le Pen, the former leader of Frances far-right National Rally (RN) party. Following Le Pens conviction on charges of embezzlement, Trumps social media post demanding her release has drawn fierce criticism from French leaders, who see it as an unprecedented intrusion into Frances judicial and political affairs.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou responded sharply to Trumps April 4 remarks on Truth Social, in which the US president declared Le Pen a victim of a “witch hunt” and wrote in all caps, “FREE MARINE LE PEN!” Trump suggested that Le Pen...