Trump Criticizes French Immigration Amid Nationwide Protests

President Donald Trump criticized France's immigration policies during a Republican campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, claiming the country is "burning down" because it opens its borders to people who hate it. Trump framed the unrest as a warning to American voters ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, asserting that France is "under siege, looted and set ablaze by migrants, jihadists and communists."

The comments followed nationwide protests in France driven by the rising cost of living, teacher shortages, and deteriorating public services. Between 410,000 and 800,000 people demonstrated across major hubs including Paris, Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, and Toulouse. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported nearly 1,000 arrests on Saturday as some marches turned violent, resulting in looting and arson.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the "stupid comments" of foreign leaders, accusing them of campaigning at France's expense. Macron specifically targeted Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the latter of whom claimed France is facing an "invasion of extremist Islam" and criticized the government for a policy of appeasement. While Trump linked the violence to immigration, French authorities have not established such a link, and Macron stated there is no visible foreign interference in the events.