US President Donald Trump has blamed immigration for unrest in France, urging the country to tighten its border controls following protests that reportedly caused widespread damage and led to 1,800 arrests.
Trump made the remarks in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, claiming that immigration had contributed to France’s growing problems.
“France is burning! The immigration of people from an entirely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has shattered that once great country,” he wrote.
“Close your Borders and take control, before it is too late!”
His comments came as France dealt with the aftermath of protests held on Saturday, during which a historic town hall was reportedly set ablaze and other properties were damaged.
The reported destruction and arrests have added to the pressure on French President Emmanuel Macron as the country prepares for an election to choose his successor in about six months.
The unrest has also drawn reactions from senior US political figures, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance linking the violence to immigration and multiculturalism.
However, Trump’s remarks did not establish that immigration was responsible for the protests or the reported damage.
Vance echoed Trump’s position in a post on X on Saturday, arguing that Western countries had failed to address questions surrounding integration and cultural differences.
“Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility,” he wrote.
He further claimed that critics had warned about the consequences but were ignored.
“I pray that France, a beautiful country of amazing people, will stop this madness before more of its landmarks burn,” Vance added.
His comments reinforced the Trump administration’s criticism of immigration policies in Western countries, although the claims linking immigration to the unrest remain political assertions.
Vance also connected the unrest in France to the political climate in the United States ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The elections will determine which party controls seats in the US Congress, with Republicans expected to face a challenging contest.
Vance, who has been mentioned as a potential Republican presidential contender in 2028, has increasingly used international developments to argue for stricter immigration policies and greater emphasis on cultural integration.
