Emmanuel Macron criticizes American free speech model

During a state visit to Spain, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized the American concept of free speech, describing it as the “opposite of freedom of speech.” Speaking at the Complutense University of Madrid on September 29, 2026, Macron argued that true freedom can only exist within “common frameworks” established by the state and must respect “public order.”

Macron compared offensive online posts to physical assaults on the street, suggesting that freedom should not allow for the ability to insult or destroy shared spaces. He called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to enforce the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) “much faster and much more strongly.” This visit marked the first state visit by a French president to Spain since 2009.