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“France Is Burning!” Donald Trump blames immigration for violent protests as arrests mount and a historic city hall is partially destroyed by arson. (Images: Dynamite News)
Washington DC/Paris: US President Donald Trump has blamed immigration for the violent unrest that has gripped parts of France, calling on the French government to shut its borders as demonstrations over living costs and public services spiralled into clashes, looting and arson. The remarks came as French authorities assessed the damage caused by Saturday’s protests. Reports on Sunday put the number of arrests at around 1,800, while hundreds of police officers and emergency personnel were reported injured.
The unrest has also damaged historic infrastructure. In Limoges, workers began assessing the destruction at the city hall, a 143-year-old building that was partially destroyed in an arson attack.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump portrayed immigration as a major factor behind the violence and urged French authorities to take immediate action. “France is burning!” Trump wrote, claiming that immigration from a different cultural background had damaged the country. He called for border closures and tighter control, warning that it could be too late if authorities failed to act. His comments have brought immigration back into the spotlight as France struggles to contain the fallout from demonstrations that began over economic pressures, public services and conditions in education.
Trump had also ridiculed the situation earlier, sarcastically describing France as a destination for people seeking a revolution. His remarks appeared to mock the scale of the unrest and the country's history of political upheaval.
The protests on October 17 drew an estimated 550,000 people, according to France’s Interior Ministry. The CGT labour union, however, put the turnout at approximately 800,000. Students, trade union members and activists joined the demonstrations to express anger over rising living expenses, deteriorating public services and concerns about inadequate conditions in the education sector.
Although several marches began peacefully, violence erupted in multiple cities. Incidents of looting, arson and clashes added to the pressure on authorities, while damage to public buildings highlighted the scale of the disruption. The destruction of Limoges city hall has emerged as one of the most striking examples of the damage reported during the unrest.
US Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump's criticism, linking the violence to what he described as Western liberal approaches to immigration and multiculturalism. In a post on X, Vance argued that European governments had prioritised diversity and compassion without adequately addressing the challenges of integration and cultural compatibility. He claimed that warnings about the possible consequences had been ignored and urged French authorities to prevent further damage to historic landmarks.
Vance also connected the developments in France to American politics, suggesting that the situation should serve as a warning to US voters. He criticised congressional Democrats, claiming that their political approach could lead to similar outcomes in the United States.
The unrest has exposed growing tensions surrounding the cost of living, public services and the response to demonstrations. With widespread damage reported and hundreds of security and emergency personnel reportedly injured, authorities face the challenge of restoring order while addressing the concerns driving public anger.
Trump and Vance have used the violence to reinforce their criticism of immigration and multiculturalism. However, the demonstrations described in the available reports were driven by economic and public-service grievances, and the reported incidents alone do not establish immigration as the cause of the unrest. As France deals with the aftermath, the scale of the protests and the damage to public property are likely to intensify debate over the country's political and social challenges.
