Trump admin pressures Romania to lift restrictions on Andrew Tate, brother

US VP JD Vance criticises Romania's court for cancelling elections over alleged Russian interference.

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The administration of US President Donald Trump reportedly pressured Romanian authorities to relax travel restrictions imposed on Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are currently facing criminal charges in Romania.

The Financial Times claims that US officials raised the issue multiple times with Romanian counterparts, requesting that the Tate brothers—who are dual US and UK nationals—have their passports returned while legal proceedings continue.

The brothers, who deny all charges of human trafficking, sexual misconduct, money laundering, and forming an organised crime group, were released from house arrest in January but remain barred from leaving Romania.

Trump envoy allegedly intervened

Among those said to have personally intervened is Richard Grenell, a former special envoy in Donald Trump's administration.

According to the Financial Times, Mr Grenell met Romania’s foreign minister, Emil Hurezeanu, in an attempt to push for the lifting of restrictions on the Tate brothers.

While Mr Grenell confirmed he had met Mr Hurezeanu, he denied making any direct appeal, saying:

“I had no substantive conversation with Emil Hurezeanu and there was no follow-up.”

However, he openly acknowledged his support for the Tate brothers, adding:

“I support the Tate brothers as evident by my publicly available tweets.”

A spokesperson for Mr Hurezeanu dismissed any suggestion that political influence could sway Romania’s legal process, stating:

“Romanian courts are independent and operate based on the law. There is due process.”

Earlier this month, Mr Grenell criticised the US government’s involvement in Romania’s judicial system, alleging that under President Joe Biden, US aid had been:

“Weaponised against people and politicians who weren’t woke.”

His comments, posted on X, specifically referenced Romania, suggesting that funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) had been used to strengthen Romania’s legal system.

USAID programmes in Romania have been significantly reduced since Donald Trump’s presidency.

Tristan Tate also echoed these allegations, posting on X:

“Find out if any USAID went to Romania to fund any particular Lawfare-based investigations.”

His brother, Andrew Tate, has frequently used the term “lawfare”—a reference to legal cases being weaponised against individuals, claiming he himself is a victim.

Romania under US political scrutiny

Romania has also come under fire from US Republican figures, including Vice President JD Vance, who last week criticised Romania’s Constitutional Court for its controversial decision to cancel the country’s elections, citing allegations of Russian interference.

Mr Vance dismissed the claims, saying:

“If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you.”

Tate Brothers Facing Legal Action in Multiple Countries

While the Tate brothers fight legal battles in Romania, they are also under investigation in the UK and the US.

In Florida, a recent lawsuit accuses them of coercing a woman into sex work, luring her to Romania, and then defaming her after she testified against them. The brothers had previously sued her for defamation in 2023.

Meanwhile, Bedfordshire Police in the UK are also investigating allegations of rape and human trafficking related to their activities.

In Romania, their legal troubles continue, with a January court ruling sending the case back to prosecutors for further review. Despite their release from house arrest, both remain barred from leaving the country.

The Tate brothers have consistently denied all allegations and claim they are being unfairly targeted.