(The Hill) -- President Donald Trump on Thursday defended embattled French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, arguing the “witch hunt” against her is yet another instance of critics in Europe using “lawfare” to quash free speech and censor political opposition.  “The Witch Hunt against Ma rine Le Pen is another example of European Leftists using Lawfare to silence Free Speech, and censor their Political Opponent, this time going so far as to put that Opponent in prison,” Trump wrote in a Thursday night post on Truth Social.  “It is the same ‘playbook’ that was used against me by a group of Lunatics and Losers, like Norm Eisen, Andrew Weissmann, and Lisa Monaco,” the president added, referencing prosecutors who worked on an investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 election. “They spent the last nine years thinking of nothing else, and they FAILED, because the People of the United States realized that they were only Corrupt Lawyers and Politicians," he said. Trump approval slips to lowest point in second term: Survey In late March, a Paris court found Le Pen, the leader of the right-wing populist National Rally party, guilty of embezzling European Parliament funds. The explosive conviction bars the politician from taking part in the country’s elections for five years, likely preventing her from running in France’s 2027 presidential race.  Le Pen ripped the ruling, saying she would appeal the decision and hopes to have it expunged before the 2027 race. She remains ineligible to run until an appeal is concluded. Trump wrote that while he does not know her personally, he appreciates the far-right leader's perseverance. Le Pen previously has run for France's highest office three times: 2012, 2017 and 2022.  “I don’t know Marine Le Pen, but do appreciate how hard she worked for so many years," Trump wrote. "She suffered losses, but kept on going, and now, just before what would be a Big Victory, they get her on a minor charge that she probably knew nothing about – Sounds like a ‘bookkeeping’ error to me." “It is all so bad for France, and the Great French People, no matter what side they are on,” he added. “FREE MARINE LE PEN!” This is the at least the second time Trump has weighed in on Le Pen's conviction. He told reporters earlier this week that the French politician’s conviction is a “very big deal” and that it “sounds like this country.”  The verdict was also criticized by some lawmakers in France and a number of Le Pen’s right-wing allies in Europe, from Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders to Italy’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini.  ...read more read less