“Protecting freedom of speech is ‘always’ in the public interest,” stated U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in a 26-page opinion with the order.
Albanese is a highly polarizing figure linked to the Gaza conflict. At the U.N., she wrote a report accusing major U.S. companies of complicity in Israel’s “genocidal campaign in Gaza.”
When Washington sanctioned her in July 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused her of spreading antisemitism and supporting terrorism. He mentioned her contempt for the U.S., Israel, and the West.
The Israeli mission to the U.N. in Geneva labeled her as “an agent of chaos” in March, accusing her of “virulent antisemitism” and backing extremist views. Albanese has denied being antisemitic, while her family sued the Trump administration over these sanctions.
The move comes as European criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza grows.
On Wednesday, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez criticized Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for the treatment of Flotilla activists detained for trying to breach Gaza’s naval blockade.
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. This attack led to an extensive Israeli military response in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, displacement of 90% of Gaza’s population, and widespread destruction. A ceasefire, orchestrated by President Donald Trump in October 2025, saw the release of the remaining 20 Israeli hostages.
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