US President Donald Trump has blamed immigration for recent protests and violence in France, urging European countries and French President Emmanuel Macron to tighten their borders.
Trump made the remarks on Monday while speaking to reporters in Washington, repeating his criticism of European immigration policies after demonstrations and unrest rocked France over the weekend.
“What’s happening in France has to do with immigration, not schools, not anything,” Trump said. “It’s immigration, and I told President Emmanuel Macron, close up your borders.”
Demonstrations over soaring prices took place in Paris and other French cities over the weekend, with some protests escalating into violence described in the report as among the worst street unrest France has experienced in recent years.
Trump said he had warned Macron about France’s immigration policies during a conversation some time ago, arguing that allowing people from around the world to enter the country would create serious problems.
“A long time ago, you’re making a big mistake in France. You’re letting everybody from the world come in. The whole world was coming in,” Trump recalled telling the French president.
The US president also claimed that Paris could soon become a Muslim-majority city, making a controversial remark about the French capital.
“Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon,” the 80-year-old Republican added.
Trump further warned European leaders that failing to strengthen border controls and remove criminals would have serious consequences for the continent.
“If Europe doesn’t close its borders and bring the criminals out, like the people that are protesting, Europe is finished.”
Immigration has been a central issue in Trump’s political agenda. During his 2024 presidential campaign, he made tackling illegal immigration one of his major pledges and repeatedly used claims about migrants that were sometimes false and appealed to racial fears.
His latest comments come as France faces renewed debate over the cost of living, public protests and immigration, while Trump continues to press European governments to adopt stricter border policies.
Source: AFP
