The decision to turn back French scientists was unrelated to Trump, officials clarify.

The French government claims that scientists were denied entry into the United States due to opinions expressed about the Trump administration, but US officials have refuted this. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, stated that the scientist in question had confidential information from the Los Alamos National Laboratory and attempted to take it without permission.

French Minister of Higher Education Philip Baptist confirmed that the scientist traveled to a conference near Houston earlier this month.

Philip Baptist claimed that the scientist’s phone contained messages discussing President Trump’s policies, which may have led to his denial of entry into the US. However, US official Tricia McLaughlin denied that the scientist’s removal was based on political beliefs.

The scientist’s work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory remains unclear, but lab spokesman Jennifer Talhelm stated they are working with federal officials to understand the incident further.

The scientist was affiliated with the French publicly funded National Scientific Research Center, but representatives did not immediately respond to the allegations against him. Former French National Center for Space Research head Philip Baptist reiterated his claim that the scientist was targeted due to private discussions about Trump administration policies.

Baptist’s concerns were echoed by the French Academy of Sciences, stating that the deportation of scientists undermines academic freedoms.

Zoran Kanno Yongs contributed with a report from Washington, DC, and Segoren le stradic reported from Paris.