Home » France Accuses Trump of Booting Space Researcher Over ‘Personal Opinion’

France Accuses Trump of Booting Space Researcher Over ‘Personal Opinion’

Border officials reportedly barred the academic from visiting Texas after finding anti-Trump messages on his phone.

Houston,theFrenchhaveaproblem.AspaceresearcherflyingintoHoustonforaconferencewaskickedoutoftheUnitedStatesafterborderofficerssearchedhisphoneandfoundhimexpressinganunfavorable“personalopinionontheTrumpadministration’sresearchpolicy,”FrenchMinisterofHigherEducationandResearchPhilippeBaptistetoldAgenceFrance-PresseonWednesday. It’snotclearexactlywhattheoffendingcontentwas.One“diplomaticsource”toldAgenceFrance-Pressethattheunnamedscientist,whoworksforFrance’sNationalCenterforScientificResearch,wasaccusedofmessages“thatreflecthatredtowards[PresidentDonald]Trumpandcanbedescribedasterrorism.”Anothersource,whoplacedtheincidentonMarch9,saidthescientistwasthreatenedwithanFBIinvestigationfor“hatefulandconspiratorialmessages.” Askedaboutthereport,theFBI’sHoustonofficereferredReasontoU.S.CustomsandBorderProtection(CBP),wh