‘You’re Letting Everybody Come’: Trump Says He Warned Macron On Immigration Before France Unrest

Last Updated:October 20, 2026, 04:16 IST

Trump blamed immigration for violent protests in France, urging French President Emmanuel Macron and Europe to tighten their borders.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron with US President Donald Trump at Chateau de Versailles, in Versailles southwest of Paris. (AFP photo)

US President Donald Trump on Monday again blamed immigration for protests and violence that have rocked France in recent days, urging Europe and French President Emmanuel Macron to tighten borders.

“What’s happening in France has to do with immigration, not schools, not anything,” Trump told reporters in Washington, echoing his comments from the day before. “It’s immigration, and I told President Emmanuel Macron, close up your borders.”

Weekend demonstrations over soaring prices were held in Paris and other cities, degenerating into some of the worst street violence France has seen in recent years.

Trump recounted a conversation with Macron, telling him “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.

“Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon,” the 80-year-old Republican added.

“If Europe doesn’t close its borders and bring the criminals out, like the people that are protesting, Europe is finished.”

Trump made combating illegal immigration a central pledge of his 2024 campaign, at times relying on false claims that played on racial fears.

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What did Donald Trump tell Emmanuel Macron regarding French borders and immigration?

Donald Trump stated that he warned French President Emmanuel Macron a long time ago that his immigration policies were a major mistake because he let too many people into the country. Trump urged Macron and Europe to close their borders and remove criminals to address the ongoing unrest.

What were the primary issues driving the protests and demonstrations in France?

The protests and demonstrations in France originally began over education issues such as teacher shortages, underfunded schools, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating infrastructure, before expanding to address living costs and public services. While Donald Trump blamed mass immigration for the unrest, authorities and reports noted that the protesters’ core demands centered on inflation, education, and public services.

How many arrests were reported by French authorities during the recent unrest?

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that around 1,800 people had been arrested nationwide as authorities dealt with arson, looting, and attacks on public buildings. In Paris alone, police reported a total of 855 arrests.

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