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Macron Slams Trump and Foreign Leaders Over French Riots Comments — AI-generated representative image: French President Emmanuel Macron addresses reporters at a press conference amid nationwide unrest in France.

Editorial Team

French president rejects migrant-driven unrest claims and warns against foreign interference narratives.

French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned as "stupid" and "unacceptable" remarks by foreign leaders about the unrest gripping France, in an apparent swipe at US President Donald Trump, who blamed the violence on Paris' border policies. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Macron accused outside actors of manipulating information about the nationwide riots to their own advantage.

The escalating crisis carries major political stakes for Macron, whose approval rating has fallen to a record-low 15% just six months before France's presidential election. His decision to proceed with a Middle East trip while cities burned at home has deepened perceptions of a lame-duck presidency and handed domestic rivals a platform to dominate the debate.

Escalating Unrest and Official Response

France has been rocked by some of its worst riots in years, sparked last month by teacher shortages and crumbling schools before expanding into nationwide protests over inequality, soaring living costs and public service cuts. Over the weekend, hundreds of thousands took to the streets as demonstrations descended into clashes with police, arson and looting.

The toll has been severe: nearly 2,400 people were arrested, around 1,000 officers injured, and hundreds of businesses looted or buildings torched, with damage estimated at "hundreds of millions of euros."

In response, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has ordered curfews ahead of fresh protests, banning gatherings near Paris landmarks including the Louvre and Champs-Elysees for three days. France also plans to deploy 1,000 counterterrorism troops to reinforce police on Saturday, October 24, while Lecornu is due to meet mayors of riot-hit cities on Thursday to coordinate prevention efforts.

Trump's Intervention and Domestic Fallout

Trump claimed that "migrants, jihadists, and communists" had "conquered, looted, and burned" France, accusing Macron of failing to secure its borders and urging European leaders to "close their borders." He seized on the unrest to rally Republicans ahead of the November 3 midterms, warning that scenes of "burning steeples and raging fires" reflected what his opponents wanted for America.

Asked whether his criticism was aimed at Trump, Macron replied: "Among others." He rejected claims that France had been "invaded by hordes of migrants and Islamists" as "completely false," adding: "These people annoy me."

French authorities have largely blamed the violence on radical far-left groups and opportunistic criminals, without linking its organization to immigrants. Meanwhile, politicians across the political spectrum have criticized Macron's government for undermining public services and failing to maintain order. Rival Marine Le Pen, who leads first-round polling for April 2027 with 32-36% support, and Jean-Luc Melenchon have dominated the debate during Macron's absence.

Foreign Interference Claims and Rebuttals

Macron also dismissed suggestions of foreign interference in the unrest itself, citing a lack of evidence. His remarks followed Western media speculation seeking to link the riots, which spread from France to Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Albania, to outside meddling.

The Financial Times and the Telegraph, citing anonymous sources, reported that several EU governments had asked intelligence agencies to investigate possible Russian involvement, with the FT expanding the suspect list to Iran and Algeria. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto suggested the riots were part of a "hybrid war" waged through social media, while Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama accused Russian and Iranian intelligence services outright.

However, the European Commission has declined to launch an investigation, citing insufficient evidence, according to Euronews. Moscow routinely dismisses such allegations as "absurd" fabrications. Responding to Rama, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "These are citizens of your own country who took to the streets to protest. Don't shift your responsibility onto others." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the unrest as evidence of "a major crisis... bordering on chaos."

What Lies Ahead

With curfews in place and 1,000 counterterrorism troops set to reinforce police on Saturday, authorities are preparing for fresh protests while seeking to prevent further violence. The European Commission has declined to open a formal investigation into foreign interference, and no evidence has confirmed disproportionate migrant involvement in the unrest. Additional developments are expected as Lecornu meets with mayors and as France approaches its April 2027 presidential election.