Macron says foreign leaders' remarks on French unrest are foolish, unacceptable
In short
French President Emmanuel Macron said in Qatar on 21 October that foreign information manipulation had led many people, including foreign leaders, to make "foolish and unacceptable" remarks about unrest in France. Asked whether US President Donald Trump was among them, he replied that he was one of them, according to most of the outlets. Macron also said claims that France had been invaded by migrants and Islamists were false.
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French President Emmanuel Macron, on a tour of the Middle East, told reporters in Qatar on 21 October that foreign information manipulation after the recent violence in France had led many people, including foreign leaders, to make "unacceptable and foolish" remarks. Asked whether he meant US President Donald Trump, he answered that Trump was one of them, according to Kyunghyang Shinmun and Chosun Ilbo; Yonhap renders the reply as "among them". AFP said Macron did not name either of the two leaders directly. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Macron said there was no visible foreign involvement in the events themselves, but that AI-generated images showing scenes that never happened in France had circulated. He called claims that France had been invaded by migrants and Islamist groups "completely false". He added that there were leaders in election campaigns, in the region or across the Atlantic, who were using France for their own campaigns. Chosun Ilbo also quoted him as saying that people who speak badly of France at this moment do not love it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Trump had written on Truth Social that the protesters were people from a completely different world and urged closing borders before it was too late, Kyunghyang Shinmun reported. Chosun Ilbo reported that he had said Paris would soon become a Muslim city, and Newsis said he told a rally in Kansas to look at France to see what was at stake in the midterm elections. Netanyahu said in an i24 interview on 20 October that France had been invaded by extremist Islam. Yonhap and Asia Economy noted that both the United States and Israel face elections. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The protests began late last month when high school students demanded better educational conditions and have grown into broader protests over rising living costs. Arson and looting occurred during the protests on 17 October. Yonhap said the French government has not detailed the backgrounds of those arrested, saying only that both migrants and French nationals are among them. Asia Economy, citing the BBC, said French intelligence told the government that anarchist groups were linked to the student protests, which student groups deny. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
More large protests are announced for 24 October. Macron said those who try to spread disorder next Saturday would be blocked, and Newsis reported the government plans to deploy troops. Asia Economy said the student union UNEF urged people to join, the Yellow Vests filed a march plan for central Paris, and major unions are considering a general strike on 5 November. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
On the same day Macron made an unscheduled visit to Saudi Arabia and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Elysee Palace said the visit was to show solidarity after Yemen's Houthis attacked Saudi territory. Yonhap said Macron also said France had deployed personnel and military capabilities to Yanbu over the past eight days in a defensive role. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The exchange opens a public dispute between France and leaders who linked the unrest to immigration, ahead of further protests planned in France on 24 October. Chosun Ilbo described it as turning into diplomatic friction between Western allies.
Key facts
- Macron spoke to reporters in Qatar on 21 October during a tour of the Gulf and Middle East. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- He said foreign information manipulation after the violence had led many people, including foreign leaders, to make unacceptable and foolish remarks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- He said leaders campaigning for elections, in the region or across the Atlantic, were using France for their own campaigns. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- He called claims that France was invaded by migrants and Islamists false and cited AI-generated images of scenes that never happened in France. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Trump had said protesters were people from a completely different world and urged closing borders; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on 20 October that France had been invaded by extremist Islam. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- Large protests are announced in France for 24 October, and Macron said those seeking to spread disorder next Saturday would be blocked. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- Macron also made an unscheduled visit to Saudi Arabia on 21 October and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Macron said foreign information manipulation led many people, including foreign leaders, to make unacceptable and foolish remarks about the French protests. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Macron said some leaders were campaigning at France's expense, whether in the region or across the Atlantic. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Macron said claims that France had been invaded by migrants and Islamist groups were false. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- AFP reported that Macron did not name the two leaders directly. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Macron made an unscheduled visit to Saudi Arabia, and the Elysee said it was to express French solidarity after Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Netanyahu said on 20 October that France had been invaded by extremist Islam. [ 2 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whom Macron meant by the leaders he criticised. Most outlets say he answered that Trump was one of them; Newsis quotes him as saying there were others besides, and reads that as pointing to Netanyahu. AFP said he named neither leader.
- Who was behind the violence. Asia Economy, citing the BBC, reports a French intelligence report linking anarchist groups to the student protests; student groups deny this and say they organised the protests themselves.
- Whether foreign actors were involved in the violence. Macron said he saw no visible foreign involvement in the events themselves but said foreign information manipulation followed, and said he would get a detailed briefing the next day.
- The background of those arrested. Yonhap says the French government has not released details and has said only that both migrants and French nationals are among them.