President Donald Trump invoked France in a warning Monday about what he claimed could happen in the United States if Democrats prevail in the midterm elections, telling supporters to “look at what’s happening in France” as he urged them to preserve Republican control of Congress.
Speaking at a rally in Park City, Kansas, near Wichita, for Republican Senator Roger Marshall, Trump referred to the current protests in France and described the country as being damaged by immigration and unrest.
He told the crowd that when they see “burning steeples and raging fires in France,” they should remember that “is what the radical Democrats want to do to America.”
Trump’s comments come after nationwide protests in France over affordability and public services spilled into violence in some cities, including looting, fires and clashes with police.
The president did not provide evidence that Democrats want violence or destruction in the United States.
Newsweek reached out to the Democratic National Convention by email Monday night for comment.
His appearance came 15 days before the November 3 election as Marshall faces an unexpectedly competitive challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the Kansas Senate race a toss-up, while NBC News characterizes it as competitive but leaning Republican.
Trump’s remarks came during an intensive Republican push to mobilize voters as control of Congress remains at stake.
The battle for Congress is playing out largely on Republican-held terrain, according to NBC News, which says Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance have also taken their campaign efforts into states and districts where Republican candidates are facing difficult contests. The Associated Press reported earlier this month that Trump launched what he called a 32-day campaign blitz while Vance also hit the campaign trail.
Republican groups spent more than $740 million on congressional contests from Labor Day through October 14, including at least $220 million from Trump-linked groups, according to a CNBC analysis of AdImpact data. CNBC reported that Republicans were increasingly directing resources toward states including Kansas, Texas and Nebraska.
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What Trump Said About France
Trump repeatedly invoked France during Monday night’s rally as he sought to frame the stakes of the November election around immigration and what he described as the future of Western countries.
“If you want to see what is at stake in this election, just look at what’s happening in France,” Trump said.
Trump described France as “a once great nation” that he claimed was being “conquered, looted and burned to the ground” and blamed migrants, extremists and left-wing politicians for the country's problems.
“They despise everything about France, and they’re destroying that country,” Trump said. “And we’re not going to let that happen to this country.”
Trump further alleged that migrants he was referring to were refusing to assimilate into French society.
“This is what’s happening to France,” Trump said. “They want to happen to our country. It’s never happening here.”
Trump also recalled what he said was an earlier warning to French President Emmanuel Macron. His characterization of that conversation was not independently verified.
“As I told President Macron, the president of France when I first met him many years ago, now close your border or you will lose France,” Trump said.
The president broadened his criticism to other European nations, mentioning Italy and Germany and claiming that they were “losing their country.”
He then tied his characterization of events in France directly to his argument against Democrats.
“When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember, that is what the radical Democrats want to do to America,” Trump said.
Trump provided no evidence that Democrats want violence or destruction in the United States. His broader argument was that Republican control of Congress was necessary to prevent the United States from experiencing the problems he attributed to immigration and left-wing policies in Europe.
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Protesters Interrupt Trump and Vance
Trump’s speech was interrupted at least three times by protesters within its opening minutes, and some protesters were removed. Trump responded by calling them “paid protesters,” but provided no evidence for that assertion.
Members of the crowd behind Trump could be seen telling one person to leave, and chanting USA.
The protesters outbursts were not audible from a live feed reviewed by Newsweek.
“They’re paid protesters,” Trump said, adding, “Here’s another one. Listen to that one. I can tell by the voice they get paid.”
Trump later minimized the size of the protest, saying there had been “two and a half people” and predicting that news reports would characterize it as a “massive protest.”
The interruptions came the same day that a protester was removed from a Vance campaign rally in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
The crowd chanted “USA” as the protester was escorted from the event. The protester could be heard saying, “Release the Epstein Files. Bless our children.”
Vance responded to the interruption by telling the crowd that “the American government exists for American citizens.”
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Republican Midterm Blitz
Trump and Vance are crisscrossing the country as Republicans try to boost their candidates and drive turnout ahead of November 3.
The Associated Press reported that Trump began what he called a 32-day campaign blitz at the beginning of October, traveling to Texas and Oklahoma while Vance campaigned in Florida. The appearances included heavily Republican areas where GOP candidates were facing unexpectedly difficult races.
Trump has since campaigned in additional states, including Arizona and Montana. Fox News reported on October 15 that he was continuing the blitz following rallies in those states as he sought to energize Republican voters and help candidates in key races.
Monday brought Trump to Kansas and Vance to North Carolina. The President is scheduled to campaign Tuesday in Greenville, North Carolina, where Spectrum News reported he is expected to boost Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley and Republican House candidate Laurie Buckhout.
Trump explicitly asked supporters Monday to transfer their support for him to Republican candidates.
“At this election, I’m asking you to pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot,” he asked the crowd.
Before the Kansas rally, Trump also argued that his campaign appearances were helping Republican candidates, saying his rallies were having a “huge impact and a positive impact on the Republican Party,” according to Fox News.
State of Play for the Midterms
Republicans enter the final stretch facing a difficult fight for control of Congress.
In the House, Fox News’ October 13 Power Rankings forecast Democratic control, giving Democrats an advantage in at least 219 seats and Republicans an advantage in at least 198. The forecast pointed to Democrats’ generic-ballot advantage and movement in a number of individual House contests.
The Senate remains closely contested. Republicans hold 53 seats, while Democrats hold 45 and two independents caucus with them. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to reach a 51-seat majority. A 50-50 chamber would leave Vice President Vance able to cast tiebreaking votes for Republicans.
Kansas has emerged as part of that battlefield. The Cook Political Report currently lists Marshall’s contest as one of seven Senate toss-ups. Cook also rates North Carolina’s open Senate contest Likely Democrat.
The House battlefield includes two closely watched North Carolina contests. Cook rates both the state’s 1st District, represented by Democrat Don Davis, and its 11th District as toss-ups.
Those competitive races provide the backdrop for the Republican campaign push, with Trump asking supporters in Kansas to treat November 3 as though his own name were on the ballot.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins