Macron says foreign leaders' comments on French riots were based on fake AI videos

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, October 21, condemned foreign leaders for "stupid" remarks about the rioting and looting that erupted on Saturday, October 17, alongside nationwide demonstrations in France. He appeared to be targeting US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The issue matters because the government expects another wave of protests this Saturday and has promised a tough security response.

Macron's claims

Speaking to reporters in Doha after a trip to the Gulf, Macron said there had been "foreign manipulation of information" that led to unacceptable comments. In his words, leaders campaigning for elections at home had repeated AI-generated material, sometimes "with credulity". He cited videos showing scenes that never took place in France, and claims that the country had been "invaded by hordes of migrants and Islamists", which he called totally false. He said he did not see foreign interference in the events themselves. He did not name Trump or Netanyahu.

Netanyahu said on Tuesday that France had been hit by an "invasion of extremist Islam", while Trump said events there were linked to immigration. Trump faces US midterm elections in November, and Netanyahu faces elections this month.

Background and next steps

Saturday's unrest overshadowed demonstrations in which more than half a million people marched peacefully against the rising cost of living. These followed four weeks of student protests that have closed many schools. Authorities in Paris and several other cities imposed nighttime curfews in certain zones on Monday and Tuesday.

On Thursday Macron will meet intelligence officials, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and other ministers for a detailed account of the October 17 events. Ministers have acknowledged shortcomings in the initial response and promised a vastly reinforced operation, with troops likely to be deployed alongside extra police. Macron has been criticised for travelling to the Middle East at such a time, but insisted he is in control.