Brief

Trump cites French riots to push immigration narrative ahead of US midterms

Trump and Republican figures repeated unsubstantiated claims that immigrants caused French unrest, prompting criticism from President Macron.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:26:23 GMT

Donald Trump and members of his inner circle have repeatedly invoked the October 2026 riots in France to advance unverified claims that immigration was responsible for the violence, according to France 24.

At a midterm campaign rally in Kansas, Trump broadcast footage of the French protests and warned that the United States could become "like France" if Democrats win the elections. He described France as a nation "conquered, looted, and burned to the ground by migrants, jihadists, and communists." He also criticized French President Emmanuel Macron, saying, "The whole world was coming in, and as you know, Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon, and that wasn’t the deal." Vice President JD Vance and other Republicans echoed similar accusations linking the unrest to immigrants.

France 24 noted that there is no evidence connecting immigration to the French unrest. French authorities do not collect official statistics on the racial or ethnic background of arrested protesters, making it impossible to determine any demographic link. The protests originally began as student demonstrations over teacher shortages and school conditions, later expanding to broader grievances about the cost of living and fuel prices.

Macron responded by accusing foreign leaders of making "stupid comments" at France’s expense. He said, "We saw AI‑generated images showing scenes that never happened in France. We had people claiming that we had been invaded by hordes of migrants and Islamists, which is completely false." The French president also highlighted that the demonstrations were diverse and not driven by immigration.

The focus on France comes as Republicans face mounting pressure ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. A Reuters/Ipsos poll cited by France 24 placed Trump’s approval rating at 31%, described as a record low. The outlet concluded that it remains unclear whether using the French unrest will bolster Trump’s campaign messaging.

Key facts

Trump used footage of French riots at a Kansas rally to warn the U.S. could become "like France" if Democrats win. (france24.com)
France 24 reported no evidence linking immigration to the French unrest and noted lack of ethnic data on arrested protesters. (france24.com)
President Macron called foreign leaders' comments on the riots "stupid" and said claims of a migrant invasion were false. (france24.com)
A Reuters/Ipsos poll put Trump’s approval rating at 31%, a record low, as midterms approach. (france24.com)