Trump and Vance blame immigrants for unrest in France
US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance blame immigration for unrest in France that began as student protests over schools and the cost of living. Some 1,800 people have been arrested and curfews imposed in several cities.
US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have publicly claimed that immigrants are responsible for rioting in France. The unrest began as high school student protests against deteriorating schools and the high cost of living. During nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, clashes with police broke out in several cities, a historic town hall was set on fire and 1,800 people were arrested. On Monday, overnight curfews were imposed in a number of French cities, including parts of Paris.
Saturday's protests were called over rising fuel prices and falling purchasing power. The demonstrations began weeks ago, when high school students started marching over teacher shortages, crumbling classrooms and an opaque university admissions system. The CGT, one of France's largest unions, has backed the movement and is calling for lower prices, higher pensions and better wages. Anger has since widened to fuel prices, which have climbed since US strikes effectively closed the strait of Hormuz.
Statements from US politicians
On Sunday Trump wrote on Truth Social, "France is burning!", and urged Paris to close its borders. A day earlier Vance wrote on X that Western liberals had "imported the third world" into France. On Monday Trump told reporters he had warned French President Emmanuel Macron he was making a big mistake, and claimed Paris would soon become a Muslim city.
The rhetoric echoes France's far-right National Rally. Its president, Jordan Bardella, described the violence as a convergence of ultra-left extremism and delinquent populations from the suburbs. Trump and Vance have both publicly backed Marine Le Pen, and the unrest adds pressure on Macron six months before an April election to choose his successor.
Republican politicians, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Eric Schmitt, have made similar arguments, seeking to use the events against Democrats ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. Young people have also protested in Spain, Portugal and Italy over underfunded schools and housing costs, but those demonstrations have not drawn the same attention from Washington.
