LICRA denounces antisemitic conspiracy narrative spread by Professor

Get the Trolls Out! partner LICRA, based in France, has denounced an antisemitic conspiracy narrative spread by Gael Giraud, a professor at the prestigious French National Center for Scientific Research. During a discussion, broadcasted on the YouTube channel ‘Thinkerview’, Giraud shared the prominent antisemitic conspiracy theory of the New World Order, according to which Jews are seen to hold power and control over the world and are seen to be overrepresented in the most influential sectors.  

During the discussion, Giraud used the fact that French President Emmanuel Macron used to work for the Rothschild bank, between the years of 2008 and 2012, as grounds to claim that he is under the influence of David de Rothschild as he holds the high, influential position of presidency. It is not uncommon to hear such narratives, as the Rothschild family is often the target of this type of antisemitic conspiracy narrative in France.   

In the interview itself, Giraud quoted that ‘Emmanuel Macron is David de Rothschild’s gunman. He is a bit like the child-soldiers in Congo which are the children capable of everything (…) the first thing that is asked to them is to kill their parents, (…) to be sure they are ready to anything.’ Giraud then went on to share his sentiments towards Macron, stating that ‘I think that the personality of Emmanuel Macron is not very interesting. He is a child that executes a program that has been dictated by others, especially David de Rothschild. The program is the privatization of the world and the destruction of social state’.  

Giraud made it clear that his claims were based on ‘an information circulating in Paris’, thereby revealing that such sentiments hold no factual basis or reliable source but rather, rest on personal opinion and conspiracy narratives.  

Following the event, LICRA promptly reacted to Gael Giraud’s controversial remarks on their Twitter profile resulting in Gael Giraud himself replying to the complaint.  Giraud responded by posting an apology letter on his Twitter profile, explaining his comments. Giraud opened the letter with an apology, reading ‘I sincerely apologise for the three sentences I uttered during this Thinkerview discussion this Sunday’. He then goes on to acknowledge that his words and sentiments were seen as a reflection of anti-Semitic and conspiracy narratives which he claims ‘absolutely do not reflect my thoughts or my background’.  

As seen by the immediate and prompt reaction by LICRA, this incident was an example of a complaint which resulted in a positive reaction and helped to raise awareness of the dangers of spreading antisemitic tropes and conspiracy narratives.