Brief
Speaker Johnson blames “open borders” for French riots, warns Democrats of similar chaos in US
Johnson linked France’s October riots to immigration policy and warned that a Democratic return to power could spark similar disorder in America.
By Felo News Desk · Published
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R‑La.) wrote on X on Monday that the weekend riots across France were the result of “open borders,” and warned that a Democratic resurgence in the United States could produce comparable mayhem.
What happened
France experienced widespread unrest on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, with looting, arson and clashes with police in cities including Paris and Limoges. Video footage showed masked individuals setting fire to the historic town hall in Limoges and damaging up to 2,000 businesses nationwide. Protesters, described as largely young, threw fireworks, paving stones and other objects at officers, prompting the use of tear gas and water cannons.
What the reports add
The New York Post article notes that French centrist and conservative politicians blamed the political left for fanning the violence, while many American conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, have attributed the unrest to large‑scale migration from the Middle East and Africa. The piece also mentions that footage showed participants of varied racial and ethnic backgrounds.
What was said
Johnson wrote, “France is descending into chaos because they wanted OPEN BORDERS — just like the socialist Democrats in America.” He added, “If Democrats take back control, it will be open borders and criminal illegals overrunning our country, many of whom want to destroy it.” The article attributes these statements to Johnson’s X post.
How it came about
The French riots followed a month‑long wave of protests that began over school conditions and expanded to broader economic grievances such as inflation and fuel prices. Earlier Felo News coverage linked the unrest to a concert by President Emmanuel Macron and to curfews imposed in Paris after the weekend’s violence.
Key facts
- Speaker Mike Johnson said France’s riots were caused by open borders. (nypost.com)
- The riots on Oct. 17, 2026, involved looting, arson and clashes with police across France. (nypost.com)
- Johnson warned that a Democratic return to power in the US could bring similar chaos. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Mike Johnson says ‘open borders’ caused riots in France — warns Democrats could bring similar mayhem to US”
