"I won't give up," Marine Le Pen told supporters gathered at Place Vauban in Paris. According to a police source, some 8,000 people were expected to attend the meeting on Sunday afternoon. The left is organising a counter-demonstration on Place de la République.

Le Pen's ban - after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds - means she would not be able to run in the 2027 French presidential election.

The American president cast the French politician’s conviction as an example of far-right persecution, ignoring ample evidence against her.