Trump blames immigration for France protests
US President Donald Trump invoked violent unrest in France to attack Democrats and rally support for Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, warning that similar scenes could unfold in the United States if his political opponents prevail in the November 3 midterm elections.Earlier, Trump claimed he had warned French president Emmanuel Macron to close France’s borders, saying Paris would otherwise become a “Muslim city”.At a rally on Monday evening, Trump blamed immigration for the unrest in France, where protests over rising cost of living and declining purchasing power escalated into looting and clashes with police in several cities, according to Reuters.“If you want to see what is at stake in this election, just look at what’s happening in France,” Trump told the crowd.He described France as a once-great nation that had been “conquered, looted, and burned to the ground by migrants, jihadists, and communists".“We’re not going to let that happen to this country,” he said. “When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember that is what the radical Dumocrats want to do to America.”Speaking to reporters outside the White House earlier on Monday, Trump repeated his criticism of French president Emmanuel Macron’s immigration policies, claiming he had warned him years ago to tighten border controls.
“Emanuel is a friend of mine. I told him a long time ago, ‘You’re making a big mistake in France. You’re letting everybody from the world come in. The whole world was coming in. Paris was going to be a Muslim city very soon, and that wasn’t the deal. That wasn’t the deal.’ I told him he should close up his borders. I’ve known him for eight or nine years, and I told him as soon as I met him,” Trump said.“Well, France, it is a very sad situation what’s happening in France, because what’s happening in France has to do with immigration, not schools, not anything.
It’s immigration,” he said.Comparing France’s border policies with those of the United States, he said earlier, “I said you’re making a big mistake. We closed our borders; he didn’t. And you know what? His borders are a problem, and he also has a little bit of a problem with energy. But they are doing better than others. Emanuel should have closed his borders a long time ago. I told him to do it,” Trump told reporters.Nationwide demonstrations in France were called over the cost of living and pressure on household purchasing power.
Reports of looting, fire and clashes prompted arrests and additional security measures, although the unrest’s causes extend beyond immigration.Trump’s remarks came as he campaigned for Marshall, who faces a competitive challenge from Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton, a Methodist megachurch pastor. Kansas, a conservative Midwestern state that Trump won by 16 percentage points in 2024, has not elected a Democrat to the US Senate in 94 years.
Economic discontent and opposition to Trump’s tariff policies have complicated the Republican incumbent’s re-election campaign, Reuters reported.Trump has also mocked Democrats by calling them “Dumocrats”. At the rally, Trump attacked Hamilton, saying, “He wants you to repent for being born White.” Marshall, meanwhile, criticised his opponent over cultural issues, calling him “too woke”.Economic concerns remain a challenge for Republicans ahead of the midterms.
A Reuters-Ipsos poll published on Monday put Trump’s approval rating at 31%, its lowest level in the survey.The November 3 elections will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress, with the Kansas contest emerging as one test of whether Trump’s immigration-focused messaging can offset voter concerns over prices and economic policy.