Macron criticizes foreign leaders, Trump among them, over claims about French riots

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that foreign leaders, including those "on the other side of the Atlantic", are trying to exploit France's tense social climate for their own political agenda. Bloomberg reported that he accused foreign leaders of disliking France. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]

Macron said there "has been foreign manipulation of information in the aftermath" of the looting in Paris and other French cities last weekend. "And that has led to comments that are as unacceptable as they are stupid, from many people, including foreign leaders," he said. Asked by a reporter if he was referring to Trump, he replied: "Among others." The Hill quoted him as adding: "but he is part of it." [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]

Macron said there have been "AI-generated images depicting scenes that never actually happened in France" and called claims that France was invaded by hordes of migrants and Islamists "completely false". AP reported that he did not specify which images he meant or how he knew the content was false. Asked about evidence of foreign involvement, he said there is "no visible foreign interference in the events that took place". French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said his office can provide the countries concerned with the necessary clarification, "to help them avoid spreading or amplifying false information and making baseless claims on social media". [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]

Macron also said: "The fact is, all the people who are speaking ill of our country right now are people who don't love our country." The Hill quoted him saying the government's aim is to hear and respect the concerns and anger behind the protests and address their root causes, while conceding nothing to the violence. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]

Trump had used the violence to rally his political supporters, AP reported, making unsubstantiated claims that Muslim migrants are responsible and urging Macron to "close your borders and take control before it is too late!" CNN reported that on Monday Trump claimed without evidence that France was being "conquered, looted and burned to the ground by migrants, jihadists and communists who hate Christianity". CNN also reported that Vice President JD Vance wrote on X on Monday that Western liberals had imported the third world into France. AP reported that Macron and Trump once enjoyed a good relationship but that Trump regularly mocks the French president in his public speeches. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]

CNN said the unrest began in September as protests over education and the cost of living and has since spread into nationwide violence, with more than 2,000 people arrested over the past weekend alone. The Hill reported that more than half a million people took to the streets on Saturday and that French officials said at least 2,500 people had been arrested in connection with riots in some parts of the country. CNN reported localized curfews and a promised "massive" police presence for more protests expected on Saturday. [ 6 , 8 ]

CNN reported that Macron spoke during a tour of Arab states in the Persian Gulf region. The Hill placed him in Doha, Qatar, and The New York Times in Lusail, Qatar. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]