Paris, October 23 (H.S.): French President Emmanuel Macron has criticised US President Donald Trump over remarks concerning the violent protests and riots in France, describing comments made by foreign leaders about the situation as “foolish and unacceptable”. Macron said some leaders were blaming immigrants and Islamists for the violence without presenting clear evidence to substantiate their claims.

According to Russian state-backed television network RT, the dispute intensified after Trump attributed the unrest in France to the Macron administration’s border control and migration policies. The US President alleged that immigrants, jihadists and left-wing groups had wreaked havoc across France. Responding to these claims, Macron accused foreign leaders of distorting information surrounding the incidents.

Speaking to journalists, Macron said misinformation about the unrest had circulated widely, prompting some foreign leaders to make irresponsible statements. “Some people claim that hordes of immigrants and Islamists have attacked us, which is completely false,” he said.

Asked whether his remarks were directed at Trump, Macron clarified that they applied to the US President as well as other foreign leaders.

Trump, meanwhile, accused the French government of failing to secure the country's borders and urged European nations to close their borders. He also invoked images of the violence in France in the context of American domestic politics, warning that similar circumstances could emerge in the United States.

The protests in France initially centred on issues such as teacher shortages and deteriorating conditions in schools. They subsequently evolved into a broader movement against inequality, rising living costs and cuts to public services. Clashes between police and demonstrators were reported in several cities, alongside incidents of arson, looting and damage to public property.

During the unrest, approximately 2,400 people were arrested and nearly 1,000 police officers were injured. Hundreds of shops and commercial establishments sustained damage, while several buildings were set on fire. The overall economic losses were estimated to run into hundreds of millions of euros.

French authorities, however, primarily attributed the violence to radical left-wing groups and opportunistic criminals. No clear evidence emerged to establish a major role for immigrants in the unrest.

Macron’s foreign trip during the riots also triggered a political controversy at home. The French President refused to cancel his visit, arguing that doing so could have sent a message of panic. He maintained that the government had received the necessary instructions to manage the situation.

Opposition leaders, however, criticised his decision, arguing that the President was abroad while violence was unfolding in Paris and other cities. They attacked him as an “absent president”, intensifying political pressure on his administration. Reports of declining public approval for Macron added to the controversy, while his political opponents, Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, seized the opportunity to question the government’s policies.

Amid concerns that the violence could erupt again, the French government began preparing to tighten security arrangements. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced plans to impose restrictions on public gatherings at key locations. Under the proposed measures, public gatherings around prominent sites, including the Louvre Museum and the Champs-Élysées, were to be prohibited for three days.

Plans were also reported to deploy counterterrorism troops in support of the police. The Prime Minister was preparing to meet mayors of cities affected by the riots to discuss measures aimed at preventing further violence.

Debate has also intensified over the possibility of foreign interference in the unrest. Some European media reports have discussed whether Russia, Iran and Algeria could have played a role. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed concern that an unidentified actor might be conducting a form of “hybrid warfare” through social media. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also accused Russian and Iranian intelligence agencies of involvement.

However, no substantial public evidence has emerged to substantiate these allegations. According to reports, the European Commission declined to initiate a formal investigation, citing insufficient evidence. Macron, too, said there was no clear evidence that a foreign country had intervened in the violence in France.

Moscow rejected allegations that it was fomenting unrest in European countries. Responding to the Albanian Prime Minister, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said he should concentrate on his country’s domestic problems rather than shifting responsibility onto others. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the unrest in Europe as an indication of a serious crisis.

The riots in France have once again intensified political debate across Europe over immigration, border security and law enforcement. While Trump and some European leaders are advocating stricter border policies, Macron has argued that attributing violence to immigrants or foreign countries without concrete evidence is unjustified.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar