Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday that the country was "burning" and accused immigrants of bringing "hatred in their hearts" to France, linking the unrest to migration policies. The message came after students had marched demanding more teachers and better school conditions, and unions and citizens joined the protest over high inflation and the cost of living.
The demonstrations, which began peacefully, escalated into widespread arson and looting. Barricades made from bikes and bins were burned, historic town halls were torched, and scores of shop windows were smashed. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that 1,800 people were arrested across the country, with 855 detained in Paris alone, and 500 police, firemen and paramedics injured.
Nunez said investigations are underway to identify those responsible and bring them to justice, while President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence and vowed that “those who carried out vandalism, attacked administrative offices or businesses, or carried out looting will be prosecuted and punished.”
The unrest comes six months before France’s presidential elections, adding pressure on the government amid an economy strained by debt and rising fuel prices linked to the war in the Middle East. Authorities are preparing for possible court hearings and prosecutions, and the government has pledged to tighten security and address the economic grievances that sparked the protests.
With the country still reeling from the damage, the next steps will see the French judiciary move forward with indictments, and the political debate over immigration and public order intensifies ahead of the upcoming elections.