Why Donald Trump wants Romania to lift travel restrictions on ‘misogynist influencer’ Andrew Tate

Donald Trump’s administration has urged Romanian authorities to lift travel restrictions on Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynist influencer.

Tate, a vocal supporter of the US president, is currently facing criminal charges in Bucharest.

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At the same time, people who have accused Tate of sexual violence are calling on the US to refrain from interfering in Romania’s legal proceedings.

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are under investigation for allegations related to human trafficking, money laundering, and rape.

Why Trump wants Romania to lift restrictions on Andrew Tate

Tate, 38, and his brother were arrested in Romania three years ago and are now on trial for alleged rape, trafficking of minors, and money laundering, charges they deny.

Separately, authorities in the UK are also seeking them over accusations of rape and human trafficking, which they have also denied. Their extradition will be considered once legal proceedings in Romania are concluded.

The Financial Times was the first to report that US officials had raised the case with the Romanian government last week. This was later followed up by Trump’s envoy, Richard Grenell, over the weekend.

A source informed the newspaper that the US had requested the return of the brothers’ passports so they could travel while awaiting the outcome of their trial.

Although no longer under house arrest, the Tate brothers remain prohibited from leaving Romania.

They have millions of followers in the “manosphere” - online platforms that cater to young men, promoting male dominance and opposing feminism. These networks are alleged to have played a role in Trump’s re-election campaign.

Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu confirmed that the US had brought up the Tate brothers’ case.

“Richard Grenell (Trump’s special envoy) told me he is interested in the fate of the Tate brothers,” he told G4Media.

The Tate brothers have strong backing on right-wing social media and had supported Trump during his election campaign, which could explain the US President’s insistence on lifting their travel restrictions.

Following the election, Tate reaffirmed his support for Trump, posting on X on November 6, “I’m moving back to America.”

Lawyer Matthew Jury, who is representing the alleged victims, said: “It’s very clear from members of the Trump administration’s social media posts and public statements that there is a great deal of support for Tate.”

Notably, Trump’s inner circle has also shown backing for Tate. Donald Trump Jr. previously described his detention in Romania as “absolute insanity,” while billionaire Elon Musk last month responded to a post on X about Tate’s interest in running for UK prime minister, agreeing that Tate’s analysis of UK politics was “not wrong.”

‘We are extremely concerned’: Andrew’s alleged victims

On Tuesday, British women who allege they were subjected to sexual violence by the controversial social media influencer expressed serious concerns over reports of US government involvement in the case.

They called for authorities in Romania and the UK to be “left alone to do their jobs.”

“We are extremely concerned about reports that figures in Donald Trump’s administration are pressuring the Romanian authorities to relax travel restrictions on Andrew Tate and his brother, which would increase the risk of the Tate brothers evading justice or fleeing from the authorities in Romania and the UK,” the victims stated through their lawyers, McCue Jury & Partners, according to The Guardian.

“We hope that the Romanian and the UK authorities will be left alone to do their jobs,” the statement added.

Matthew Jury accused Trump of “interfering in due process” not only in Romania but also in the UK, where the Tate brothers are awaiting extradition.

“It would be embarrassing for the UK government and a complete abdication of its responsibility to the victims if it stands by and lets this continue,” Jury said.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick also cautioned the US against involvement, asserting that the Tate brothers “must face our justice system.”

“No obstacles should be placed in the way of UK authorities. The government must make that clear to US counterparts.”

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Did not face US pressure: Romanian minister

Romania’s foreign minister has said that he had not faced pressure from US President Donald Trump’s envoy to ease restrictions on social media influencer Andrew Tate.

Emil Hurezeanu said, “I did not perceive this statement as pressure, just a repeat of a known stance.”

“I don’t know what pressures of another nature were made before or after, but what I discussed with Mr. Grenell was cordial, informal, brief, non-binding, and I certainly did not detect any form of pressure.”

Who is Andrew Tate?

Andrew Tate , who describes himself as a misogynist, is the most high-profile suspect in Romania facing trial for human trafficking. He was banned from nearly all social media platforms before Elon Musk, now an adviser to Donald Trump, took over X and reinstated his account.

A former kickboxer, Tate has accumulated millions of followers online and has lived in Romania for several years, having previously been based in the UK.

His online presence grew rapidly due to increasingly inflammatory remarks, including claims that women are partly responsible for being raped.

Tate has openly supported the patriarchy and frequently uses racial, homophobic, and sexist slurs in his social media posts.

He has also launched several online programmes marketed as educational and aimed at young men, but these have been widely criticised for allegedly teaching men how to exploit women.

The brothers have also been accused of tax evasion in the UK. In December 2024, a British court ruled that police could seize over £2 million from them for failing to pay tax on £21 million in earnings from their online businesses.

Tate has appeared in numerous videos showcasing an extravagant lifestyle featuring luxury cars, private jets, and yachts.

In a heated BBC interview in June 2023, when questioned about whether his controversial views on women negatively influenced young people, Tate claimed he was a “force for good” and that he was “acting under the instruction of God to do good things.”

With inputs from agencies