Trump’s transatlantic anti-DEI push ignores French system — and cultural differences

MARSEILLE, France (CN) — The Trump administration’s crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion is crossing borders. Dozens of companies across Europe recently received letters from U.S. embassies questioning their DEI programs, and the widespread backlash was immediate.

“France and Europe will defend their companies, their consumers, but also their values,” the French ministry of foreign trade said in a statement.

But handing out what were perceived as directives reveals a level of ignorance as to how European countries approach race and diversity policy, in both culture and law. This is particularly true in France.

“It seems to me that this letter sent by the U.S. embassy to French companies demonstrates, above all, a lack of understanding of diversity policies as they have been implemented in France,” Maxime Cervulle, a professor of communication studies at the University Paris 8, told Courthouse News. “From [certain points] of view, French diversity policy would not be very far from that currently defended by the Trump administration.”

France markets itself as a “color-blind” society. It does not collect any data on race or ethnicity under the principle of universality; a French citizen is a French citizen, regardless of background. Companies are not allowed to make hiring decisions based on skin color, which is backed by an antidiscrimination law.

But the approach is a bit of a catch-22. While the “color-blind” approach is defended as an inclusive measure, it also effectively allows French officials to deny the existence of racism, since data doesn’t exist. It follows a similar line of logic that Trump used during Covid, when he said, “If we stop testing, we’d have fewer cases.”

“It becomes complicated to apply any antidiscrimination laws if you can’t include [data] that you also cannot study, right?” Marie des Neiges Léonard, a sociologist on racial politics in France and professor at the University of South Alabama, told Courthouse News. “When you start diving into a question or an issue, you realize two things: That it becomes more complex as you dive in, but also more nuanced.”

The Trump administration’s approach to DEI policy has been anything but nuanced.

European companies in France, Belgium, Denmark and elsewhere were directed to confirm they don’t run DEI programs, as “material for purposes of the U.S. government’s payment decision,” implying potential financial repercussions. If a company doesn’t sign the form, it is asked to give detailed reasons, which the embassies said they would forward to legal services.

The embassies say that Trump's anti-DEI initiative “applies to all suppliers and service providers of the U.S. government, regardless of their nationality and the country in which they operate.”

"There is no 'verification' required beyond asking contractors and grantees to self-certify their compliance — in other words, we are just asking them to complete one additional piece of paperwork," the U.S. embassies in Paris and Berlin said in identical statements to Agence France Presse when asked about the letters.

In principle, the desired outcome of Trump's reforms — from a business standpoint, at least — could look similar to France’s labor laws. But how they’re framed provides a striking difference.

French labor law is more against discriminatory than pro-diversity. However, there are specific rules for hiring women and people with disabilities, which has helped narrow the gender gap in board rooms and secure work for disabled people.

“American interference in the inclusion policies of French companies … is unacceptable,” the trade ministry said in a statement. Economy Minister Eric Lombard said that eliminating DEI programs reflects the values of the Trump administration, which France does not share.

Even if France’s color-blind approach is so antidiscriminatory that it might conceal prejudice, it seems like the Trump administration is trying to get the same result from the opposite direction, and the difference in rhetoric is notable.

The title of Trump's executive order, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing,” frames diversity, equality and inclusion as unimportant — policy to be immediately wiped out. The two-block-long Black Lives Matter mural in Washington, D.C. has been painted over. The former Fort Liberty base has been restored to its original name, Fort Bragg — honoring a confederate general.   

The U.S. effort suggests that it has not understood France’s approach to race and antidiscrimination laws. Léonard said it’s like the administration wants to construct a building with two different blueprints that don’t match.

“I think that’s why it’s been interesting for the rest of us scholars to watch this,” she said. “It’s like, well, good luck trying to apply something you can’t find categories for.”

On Friday morning, David Sarritzu, an Italian working in central Marseille, was unpacking boxes as he talked about politics. He told Courthouse News that politicians these days are putting the real problems of the world — like famine and poverty — aside.

“In the U.S. and Europe there are too many leaders with a very old mentality,” he said. “Politics aren’t in the interest of the people.”

Follow @lilyradz