Donald Trump backs Marine Le Pen as France election heats up
DONALD Trump has backed Marine Le Pen as French voters prepare to go to the polls.
Donald Trump has backed Marine Le Pen in the French election
The US President did not offer a formal endorsement for the Front National leader but did express his support.
Donald Trump said he believes Marine Le Pen is “strongest on borders, and she’s the strongest on what’s been going on in France.”
In an interview with the Associated Press, Mr Trump said he believed the Paris shooting on the Champs Elysees which left one policeman dead could tip the election in favour of Ms Le Pen.
Le Pen is the strongest on borders, and she’s the strongest on what’s been going on in France
This morning Mr Trump tweeted: “Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!”
His comments come after his press secretary Sean Spicer insisted Mr Trump does not have a preference in the election.
Former president Barack Obama has also weighed in on the closely-fought race.
Ten thousand people support Marine Le Pen at final rally
Ms Le Pen is expected to make the second round of voting
Mr Obama took a call from frontrunner Emmanuel Macron earlier this week but stopped short of offering a formal endorsement.
Last night’s shooting has pushed national security to the top of the political agenda in France.
Ms Le Pen has promised tougher immigration and border controls to beat "Islamist terrorism" if elected.
Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2017
Mr Trump said he believes Ms Le Pen is the strongest candidate
Centrist Mr Macron, who narrowly leads a tight race ahead of Ms Le Pen, said the solutions were not as simple as she suggested, and that there was "no such thing as zero risk".
There are four leading candidates in the race with Sunday's voting followed by a runoff on May 7 between the top two candidates.
The first poll conducted entirely after Thursday's attack suggested Ms Le Pen had gained some ground on Mr Macron.
Barack Obama took a call from frontrunner Emmanuel Macron earlier this week
While he was still seen winning the first round with 24.5 per cent, his score slipped half a percentage point while Ms Le Pen's rose by one to 23 per cent.
Conservative Francois Fillon, a former prime minister, and the far left's Jean-Luc Melenchon were both down half a percentage point on 19 per cent in the Odoxa poll for the newspaper Le Point.
All the candidates are seeking to woo the huge number of undecided voters - some 31 per cent of those likely to vote, according to an Ipsos poll.