The Trump administration, congressional Republicans and American Jewish groups are blasting French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement on Thursday that France will recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly later this year.

Macron’s decision would make France the most prominent European Union country, and one of the U.S.’ closest allies, to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state, and could create momentum for other countries to make similar decisions. U.S. policy has long held, on a bipartisan basis, that a Palestinian state can only be recognized in the context of a mutually agreed diplomatic solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

“The United States strongly rejects [Macron’s] plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the [UN] General Assembly,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”

Top Republican lawmakers largely argued that the decision constituted a reward for Hamas for its Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and its intransigence in recent hostage talks, the most recent round of which collapsed just hours before Macron’s announcement.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that the announcement is a “shameful endorsement of terrorists.”

“The best way for this conflict to end is to back Israel in its righteous mission of rescuing the hostages and defeating Hamas,” he continued.

Graham (R-SC) called the decision “curious and disturbing on multiple levels” and said he is “certain this will embolden Hamas and make a ceasefire more difficult.”

“In addition, here are some questions that come to mind. Who’s in charge? What are the borders and boundaries? What is the governance structure? Does Hamas stay involved politically or militarily? Is the West Bank and Gaza part of a single state? Are they allowed to have an army? Does the education system change?” Graham continued. “Other than these few missing details, it seems like a foolproof plan!”

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement, “Choosing to reward terrorism, hostage taking and genocide against Jews is the wrong choice.”

Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) said that “France has a long history of surrendering.” 

“They surrendered their country to Muslim terrorists long ago,” Fine continued. “Now they want to surrender the Holy Land to Hamas. America and Israel don’t surrender, especially to countries like ‘Palestine’ that don’t exist.”

Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) said Macron’s decision “is a slap to the face to the Jewish community & the state of Israel.”

“President Macron must rethink this decision and side with freedom & democracy, not a terrorist regime,” Gimenez continued.

Macron’s push for Palestinian statehood had previously faced criticism and scorn from congressional Republicans ahead of a conference the country is set to co-chair on a two-state solution, which was rescheduled from June to early next week.

“It certainly sounds like they take us for granted and think that they can act without consequence. France has a long history of doing this in foreign policy. They’re consistently a problem and have been forever, but I’d say it’s very unhelpful of them at this present moment,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) told Jewish Insider in June. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said he had tried to dissuade French officials from going ahead with the move.

Several senators downplayed France’s influence in Europe and said that the U.S. should ignore the effort.

AIPAC also condemned the French announcement.

“President Macron is acting as Hamas’ handmaiden with the announcement that France will unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state,” the organization said in a statement. “By taking this action, President Macron is rewarding Hamas’ barbaric attack on the Jewish state on October 7. Moreover, this unilateral recognition makes peace and reconciliation even more elusive.”

“We urge the Administration and Congress to express their opposition to the French government concerning this irresponsible action,” the statement continued.

The American Jewish Committee said the announcement “comes at an extremely troubling time, with Hamas continuing to reject proposals for a ceasefire and the return of the remaining hostages” and noted that France is not asking for any preconditions, including those that Macron himself had previously laid out.

“By offering recognition without conditions — and without demanding the release of hostages or the disarmament of Hamas — France removes any incentive for compromise. It sends a dangerous message: you can get what you want through violence, without giving anything in return,” AJC said. “It only emboldens terror groups like Hamas by legitimizing violence and hostage-taking as viable tactics to achieve political goals. It undermines efforts by leaders across Europe and the Middle East, who are still working toward a negotiated two-state solution. France has undercut its own credibility as an honest broker — a role it has long claimed in the Middle East,” the group continued.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said, “Calling for a Palestinian state, without conditions being met by the PA, does nothing to end this war. Hamas is still holding hostages and Israel’s borders are not secure.”

“If France wants to do something productive they should help eliminate Hamas,” she continued.