Former President Donald Trump called France’s Éric Zemmour and reportedly told him to stay true to his convictions while running for president.
Zemmour’s campaign reported the call to French media. According to Zemmour, Trump told him to “never change if you want to win.”
Pundits often compare Zemmour’s candidacy in France to Trump’s 2016 presidential run. Reuters notes that Zemmour’s message tracks with Trump’s America First pledge as he claims “France needs saving from a downward spiral he blames largely on what he describes as unfettered immigration and the increasing influence of Islam on French society.”
Zemmour “holds several convictions for inciting racial hate,” adds Reuters.