Macron blames Trump and other foreign leaders for ‘stupid’ comments on France riots

Macron said leaders abroad spread false AI‑generated images and used France’s unrest for political gain.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 21 Oct 2026 18:00:18 GMT

French President Emmanuel Macron accused Donald Trump and other foreign leaders of making "stupid comments" about the recent riots in France, saying they were fueled by fake AI‑generated videos and political motives, the president told reporters in Doha on Wednesday.

What happened

After Saturday’s violent protests in cities such as Paris and Marseille, Macron travelled to Qatar where he addressed reporters. He said the unrest had been exploited by foreign politicians who were "naively spreading narratives" for their own election campaigns. He noted that AI‑generated images depicting hordes of migrants and Islamists had been circulating, which he called "completely false".

What the reports add

The Guardian noted that Macron initially avoided naming anyone, but when pressed he confirmed the remarks were aimed at Donald Trump, who has blamed migrants, jihadists and communists for the violence.
France 24 reported that Macron also referenced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose recent statement described France as suffering an "invasion of extremist Islam".
Both outlets highlighted that the comments came as France prepared for further cost‑of‑living demonstrations scheduled for the coming Saturday.
The Guardian mentioned that French government bond yields had risen above 5%, their highest level since 2002, amid market unease.

What was said

"There was foreign manipulation of information which led to unacceptable and even stupid comments by many, including foreign leaders," Macron told reporters in Doha.

When asked if he was referring to Trump, he answered, "Among others," confirming the U.S. president was among those he criticized.

Netanyahu, speaking earlier in the week, said France had been hit by an "invasion of extremist Islam".

Trump had earlier claimed that "what's happening in France has to do with immigration" and described the situation as "France is burning" on social media.

How it came about

The remarks follow a wave of unrest that began on 18 October, when roughly 550,000 people marched nationwide against rising living costs. The demonstrations turned violent in dozens of cities, leading to at least 1,800 arrests, nearly 1,000 injuries among police and emergency services, and the destruction of the historic town hall in Limoges. In response, the French government imposed partial overnight curfews in Paris, Nice, Lyon and Lille and deployed military forces to reinforce police. The unrest has prompted travel warnings from several countries and heightened political tension ahead of upcoming elections in the United States and Israel.

Key facts

Macron accused Donald Trump and other foreign leaders of making stupid comments about France's riots (theguardian.com)
He said AI‑generated images were being used to spread false narratives (france24.com)
The remarks were made during a press briefing in Doha, Qatar (theguardian.com)
France prepared for further protests on the upcoming Saturday (france24.com)