President Donald Trump’s comments that Muslim immigrants are to blame for the mass protests and riots in France were “completely false” and “stupid,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on Oct. 21.
Macron excoriated his U.S. counterpart after Trump and other top Republicans amplified unsubstantiated allegations that migrants and open borders were responsible for the looting and rioting that took place in France after a day of anti-government protests.
“There is no visible foreign interference in the events that took place, but there has been a foreign manipulation of information,” Macron said. “That has led to comments that are as unacceptable as they are stupid from many people, including foreign leaders.”
Trump said on Oct. 19 that Paris is “going
to be a Muslim city very soon” and promoted the allegation that open borders in Europe and Muslim immigrants were responsible for the unrest in France.
More than half a million people in France took to the streets on Oct. 17 to protest Macron’s government over the surging cost of living and skyrocketing fuel prices. The anti-government demonstrations spiraled into violent riots after some people used the gatherings as a guise for looting.
The demonstrations in France initially started with a movement of high school and university students who were demanding more funding for education. Labor unions, farmers and other workers’ groups later joined the protests to express their concerns about affordability.
Macron has criticized the riots and looting that led to shocking scenes of destruction throughout France, but he also said that Trump and others were wrong to spread lies about what was happening in his country.
“We’ve had people claiming that we were invaded by hordes of migrants and Islamists, which is completely false,” Macron said.
Asked by a reporter if he was referring to Trump, Macron said: “Among others, but he is part of it.”
Trump’s comments about France and his sudden focus on immigration come as Republicans are struggling to overcome widespread voter discontent ahead of November’s midterm elections. Many voters are unhappy with the state of the economy and record-high fuel prices caused by Trump’s war against Iran.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, also seized on the images of rioting in France to promote Republicans ahead of the midterms.
“What we are witnessing is a chilling warning for all Americans of what happens if the radical Marxist insurgent left gets their way,” he wrote on social media. “If Democrats take back control, it will be open borders and criminal illegals overrunning our country, many of whom want to destroy it.”
Macron accused leaders in the middle of election campaigns on the other side of the Atlantic of “using our country for their own political campaigns.”
“At times like these, you see who loves France and who doesn’t,” he said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Stupid': Macron criticizes Trump for blaming French riots on migrants
