US Embassy Pressures French Firms to Abandon Diversity Programs, Prompting Diplomatic Clash

Letters invoking Trump's anti-DEI executive order demand compliance from French companies, igniting criticism over sovereignty and values.

The US Embassy in Paris sent letters to French companies urging them to halt diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives under Executive Order 14173.
The letters, requiring compliance confirmation within five days, were distributed to companies across sectors, including some without US operations.
French officials condemned the move as inconsistent with national values and plan to address the issue with US counterparts.
The letters have raised concerns about the extraterritorial application of US policies, with similar reports emerging from Belgium and Eastern Europe.
This marks a significant escalation of the Trump administration's efforts to extend its anti-DEI policies internationally, affecting multinational corporations and trade relations.