WASHINGTON

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's conviction for embezzlement and ban from running for public office is “a very big deal," US President Donald Trump told reporters Monday in the Oval Office.

His remarks came after a Paris court sentenced Le Pen, 56, who was the front-runner for the 2027 presidential election, to four years in prison -- half of it suspended, while two years could be served under surveillance wearing an ankle bracelet. She was also fined €100,000 ($108,180).

Le Pen and other National Rally party members were found guilty of diverting more than €4 million of European Parliament funds to pay the party’s France-based staff.

"I know all about it, and a lot of people thought she wasn't going to be convicted of anything," Trump said.

"But she was banned for running for five years, and she's the leading candidate. That sounds like this country. That sounds very much like this country," he added.

Trump was convicted last May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up $130,000 in hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her story of an alleged affair with him from being released to media outlets during the 2016 presidential election. He has denied all allegations of the extramarital affair.