Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, criticized the "unacceptable and stupid" comments made by some foreign leaders, particularly Donald Trump, regarding the recent unrest in several cities in France on Wednesday. While traveling in Qatar, Macron told reporters: "Some individuals have claimed that we are influenced by groups of immigrants and Islamists, which is completely untrue."
Macron's Response to Trump's Remarks
Trump recently stated that France has been "captured, looted, and set on fire by immigrants, jihadists, and communists." Macron, referencing these comments, stressed that Trump is part of a group of political leaders who exploit France's unrest for their own agendas. He added: "In such times, one can understand who loves France and who does not."
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Unrest and International Reactions
While hundreds of thousands of protesters in France peacefully demonstrated against the cost of living and school conditions last weekend, the unrest, which included the burning of public buildings, looting of stores, and clashes with riot police, sparked widespread reactions both inside and outside France. This unrest has also become a topic for Trump's election campaigns to attract voters ahead of the November midterm elections.
Macron also pointed to right-wing leaders in other European countries who are trying to attribute France's unrest to immigration to justify their hardline policies. Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, wrote in a post on social media platform X that the turmoil affecting several cities in France clearly shows why Hungary supports the toughest possible approach to immigration.
France's Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, also responded to these remarks by suggesting assistance to the relevant countries to understand the situation and prevent the spread or dissemination of misinformation. He said: "Foreign leaders who comment on or exploit recent events in France for electoral purposes or to harm us without a proper understanding of the situation should at least show a degree of caution."
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