Brief
Trump cites France protests to push anti‑immigration agenda ahead of US midterms
The US president linked violent demonstrations in France to his immigration stance while campaigning for the November 3 midterms.
By Felo News Desk · Published
U.S. President Donald Trump invoked the unrest that erupted in France on Oct. 17, 2026, to reinforce his anti‑immigration rhetoric ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, Gulf News reported.
What happened
Protests over the “high cost of living” spread across France over the weekend, with a fire destroying a city hall in Limoges after demonstrators forced entry. Police reported looting, violent clashes and injuries, prompting partial curfews on Monday. The unrest was driven by soaring inflation, according to French officials.
What the reports add
Gulf News noted that Trump recalled a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, saying, “I told him a long time ago, you're making a big mistake in France. You're letting everybody from the world come in…Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon.” The article also cited Trump’s Truth Social post: “The migrants have taken over France. They must CLOSE THE BORDERS, FAST!”
What was said
JC Lintzenich, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, told AFP, “They’re taking this French crisis and turning it into a campaign argument.” Justin Vaisse, a Johns Hopkins University professor of U.S. foreign policy, added to AFP, “Since the beginning of the MAGA movement, Europe has been an extension of the US political battlefield…when events like the unrest from October 17 occur, the political machine gets moving.” Vice President JD Vance posted on X, “Western liberals imported the third world into France…they ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility.” Right‑wing media personalities Glenn Beck, Benny Johnson, Nick Sortor and Jack Posobiec made similar claims, blaming Muslim‑majority immigrants for the crisis.
Key facts
- France protests on Oct. 17, 2026, turned violent, prompting partial curfews. (gulfnews.com)
- President Trump posted on Truth Social urging a rapid closure of France’s borders. (gulfnews.com)
- Trump cited a conversation with President Emmanuel Macron, warning that Paris could become a Muslim city. (gulfnews.com)
- JC Lintzenich said the French crisis is being used as a campaign argument. (gulfnews.com)
- Vice President JD Vance criticized Western liberals for importing the “third world” into France. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “As midterms loom, Trump seizes on France unrest for political gain”
