Influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are currently facing trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking among others, have recently entered the US following the removal of a two-year travel restriction by Romanian prosecutors.
Andrew, aged 38, and his brother Tristan, aged 36, have strongly refuted the accusations against them. Departing from Bucharest on a private jet early Thursday, they landed in Florida later in the day, with Andrew expressing to the media that they have been misunderstood.
While the Romanian prosecutors have emphasized that the legal case against the Tate brothers remains active, with them being under judicial supervision requiring regular reporting to authorities and an obligation to return to Romania, their departure has raised concerns that political influences may have played a role in their release. President Trump has stated he was unaware of the brothers’ departure from Romania.
The Tates are facing charges in Romania related to human trafficking and leading an organized group for sexually exploiting women, with Andrew also accused of rape. Additionally, in the US, they are confronted with a civil lawsuit from a woman who alleges they coerced her into sex work and subsequently defamed her for speaking out to Romanian authorities.
Moreover, the brothers are confronting separate allegations in the UK concerning rape and human trafficking. They have denied all accusations leveled against them.
Upon their arrival in the US, Andrew Tate told reporters, “We live in a democratic society where one is innocent until proven guilty, and I believe my brother and I have been largely misunderstood.” He further mentioned the prevalence of rumors about them circulating online and stressed that they have never been convicted of any crime.
The brothers declined to comment on the circumstances of their release and any potential involvement by Trump in facilitating their entry into the US. Their lawyer, Joseph McBride, stated that they plan to return to Romania by the end of March for discussions with the prosecutor before coming back to the US, citing a feeling of security in America, particularly due to Trump’s presidency.
Speaking after their arrival, President Trump stated he had no prior knowledge of the Tate brothers being released from Romania and brushed off suggestions of US pressure being exerted on the Romanian government for their release. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, sitting alongside Trump, emphasized the importance of justice in addressing the human trafficking charges.
The Tate brothers’ arrival in Florida on Thursday was observed by onlookers as they disembarked the plane. This development comes following earlier remarks by figures in the Trump administration, with the Tates having expressed support for Trump in their social media posts, and Tristan highlighting his brother’s influence in garnering support from young men.
Reflecting on the situation, Romania’s Foreign Minister shared that the issue of the Tate brothers had been informally raised by Trump’s special envoy during a conversation at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. The minister clarified that he did not view this interaction as pressuring but rather as a casual
Grenell informed the Financial Times that he had expressed his backing for the Tate brothers through his “publicly available tweets.” However, women who have leveled sexual abuse accusations against the Tate brothers expressed significant apprehension last week upon hearing reports that US officials had urged Romania to ease travel restrictions for the men. Andrew Tate, a self-professed misogynist with a substantial online following, despite previous bans from social media platforms due to his controversial views, along with his brother, were initially arrested in Romania in December 2022. Andrew faced charges of rape and human trafficking, while Tristan was under suspicion for human trafficking. Both denied the accusations and spent several months under house arrest. In August 2024, new allegations, including sexual relations with a minor and trafficking of underage individuals, were brought against them, which they also denied. Andrew, a former kickboxer and participant on the UK TV show Big Brother, had relocated from the UK to Romania years prior. Meanwhile, authorities in Bedfordshire are pursuing his extradition for separate allegations of rape, human trafficking, and tax evasion. In the UK, four British women have initiated a civil case against Andrew Tate in the UK High Court, alleging rape and coercive control, all of which Tate denies. The plaintiffs expressed doubts about the likelihood of criminal prosecution in Romania and called upon UK authorities to take action. Upon learning that Romanian authorities had acquiesced to pressure from the Trump administration to permit Andrew Tate’s travel within Europe and to the US, the women issued a statement expressing disbelief and feeling re-traumatized. Elena Lasconi, a candidate in Romania’s upcoming presidential elections, demanded the immediate resignation of the head of Romania’s organised crime investigations directorate, DIICOT, which authorized the departure of the Tate brothers. Lasconi condemned the decision and urged prosecutors to clarify whether external influence had played a role. DIICOT prosecutors stressed that the judicial conditions for the brothers remained unchanged, warning that any bad-faith violations could result in stricter measures of deprivation of liberty. Following a successful court appeal, the brothers regained possession of seized assets, including properties, vehicles, and bank accounts. The Tates are expected to return to Bucharest by the end of March to fulfill the prosecutors’ requirements, although compliance remains uncertain. Romania, as both a member of the EU and a crucial NATO ally, maintains an extradition treaty with the US. Senior Trump administration members have also criticized the Romanian government over a court ruling annulling a prior presidential election. Security services in Romania reported support for far-right candidate Calin Georgescu from various Trump associates.
Accounts linked to Russia have been identified on TikTok, suspected of being part of an engineered influence campaign. In a recent development, Georgescu faced indictment on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to incite acts against the constitutional order. Despite the accusations, Georgescu maintains his innocence, labeling the annulment of the election as a “formalized coup d’état.” The prosecution continues to delve into claims of electoral fraud, further intensifying the complexity of the situation.
