- Four former U.S. officials demanded George Simion’s visa revocation on August sixteenth, twenty twenty-six.
- The signatories cited pro-Kremlin narratives and fascist associations as grounds for stripping his entry privilege.
- Romania’s AUR party denounced the appeal as a witch hunt lacking concrete evidence.
Four former U.S. officials urged visa revocation for George Simion on Aug. 16, 2026, pressing Washington to strip the Romanian politician's entry privilege. The appeal was public. They tied it to his political record.
The signatories were Adrian Zuckerman and Mark Gitenstein, both former U.S. ambassadors to Romania; Ronald Gidwitz, former ambassador to Belgium; and James S. Gilmore III, former governor of Virginia. They came from Democratic and Republican administrations. The mix crossed party lines.
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They framed their case in blunt language:
"Why does George Simion, leader of Romania's AUR party, continue to enjoy the privilege of a U.S. visa, despite a political record that has repeatedly raised concerns among historians, Jewish organizations and democracy observers? . This is not a question of rights. It is a question of whether the United States should grant the privilege of entry to individuals whose actions, rhetoric and political associations appear fundamentally incompatible with American values."
The officials said Simion's rhetoric had repeatedly echoed pro-Kremlin narratives. They also criticized his support for Călin Georgescu, whom they said had made repeated antisemitic statements and praised fascist figures. Simion is barred from Moldova and Ukraine. The bans remain.
Visa records are generally confidential under Section 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The statute keeps individual files private. The public push therefore centered on politics, not a disclosed agency ruling.
Romania's visa-waiver reversal set the backdrop
On May 2, 2025, DHS revoked Romania from the Visa Waiver Program. The department said the move was meant "to protect the integrity of the VWP and ensure border and immigration security." It added that Romania may be reconsidered for VWP designation in the future if it meets the statutory eligibility criteria.
The four signatories included both Democratic and Republican appointees. That detail widened the appeal's reach. It also signaled a cross-party warning.
AUR answered with a rejection
On Aug. 17, 2026, AUR denounced the request as a "witch hunt" and a "discrediting campaign" without concrete evidence. The party answered quickly. It rejected the demand outright.
Romania may be reconsidered for VWP designation in the future if it meets the statutory eligibility criteria.
