'France is burning!': Trump blames immigration for violent protests, urges border crackdown

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Sunday blamed immigration for the violent unrest sweeping France, claiming that the arrival of people from different cultural backgrounds had contributed to the country's deteriorating situation. His remarks came as French authorities struggled to assess the damage following nationwide protests that left hundreds of businesses vandalised, vehicles torched and 1,800 people arrested.

In a strongly worded post on his Truth Social platform, Trump urged France to tighten its immigration policies and regain control of its borders before the situation worsened.

"France is burning! The immigration of people from an entirely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has shattered that once great country," Trump said.

"Close your Borders and take control, before it is too late!" he added.

Trump's comments came a day after violent demonstrations over the rising cost of living erupted across France, with widespread looting, arson and clashes leaving extensive damage in Paris and several other major cities.

However, French authorities have not established immigration as the cause of the unrest, and Trump's remarks appeared to link the violence to his broader criticism of migration policies.

The scale of destruction has intensified pressure on President Emmanuel Macron, who is approaching the final months of his presidency, with elections to choose his successor scheduled in six months.

France reels from violence as 1,800 arrested

French authorities confirmed that around 1,800 people were arrested following Saturday's demonstrations, which saw shops looted, vehicles set ablaze and public buildings attacked.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said investigations were underway "to identify the perpetrators of these acts so they can be brought to justice".

Paris witnessed some of the worst violence, with burnt barricades, shattered shopfronts and debris scattered across several neighbourhoods.

Officials said 557 people remained in custody in the capital following a "record" number of arrests.

Describing the destruction, Paris deputy mayor Lamia El Aaraje said the city had experienced "a level of violence that we have never, I believe, seen before".

The unrest also spread to Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Strasbourg, Lyon and other cities, where hundreds of businesses were targeted.

According to the Retail and Trade Federation, approximately 1,500 commercial establishments were damaged, with losses estimated at hundreds of millions of euros.

One person died during the main protest march in Paris, although officials said the death was related to a medical condition and was not caused by the violence.

'It's like we had a war': Paris residents describe destruction

Residents of Paris expressed shock at the extent of the damage after a night of violence and looting.

"It's like we had a war," 78-year-old Mehmet Ozeden told AFP while surveying burnt barricades in central Paris.

Anita Gras, who was jogging through streets littered with debris, recalled witnessing a group of young men looting a sports shoe store.

"They stayed until 1:00 a.m.; we were afraid they were going to throw things at us," she said.

Another resident, 57-year-old Cecile Rogue, described the scenes as frightening.

"It's appalling, terrifying -- groups of young people came here yesterday (Saturday), looting, smashing everything, with total impunity," she said while looking at a pile of charred bicycles.

Historic town hall torched, Lyon witnesses chaos

The violence also caused significant damage to historic buildings outside the capital.

In Limoges, a 19th-century town hall was destroyed in a fire that authorities believe was deliberately started during the unrest.

Local prefect Maurice Barate told news channel LCI that the building had been set ablaze by "a wild horde". Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control only in the early hours of Sunday.

In Lyon, a tourist office in the city centre was set on fire as protesters clashed with security personnel and looting spread through commercial areas.

Lyon Mayor Gregory Doucet condemned the destruction, saying "the chaos that reigned in the city for several hours was abominable".

Political blame game intensifies

The violence has triggered a fierce political confrontation in France, with competing parties blaming one another for the escalation.

The French government and far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused ultra-left groups of being responsible for the violence.

Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, however, accused the authorities of aggravating tensions during the demonstrations.

Paris deputy mayor Lamia El Aaraje criticised Le Pen's party, accusing it of "acting like a pyromaniac firefighter" by exploiting the unrest to advance its political ambitions ahead of the presidential election.

The controversy also drew a reaction from US Vice President JD Vance, who suggested in a post on X that the violence was linked to France having "imported the third world".

The remarks by Trump and Vance brought an international dimension to the political debate surrounding the protests.

Macron to address nation, emergency meeting scheduled

President Macron was scheduled to address the nation at 1800 GMT on Sunday following consultations with senior ministers over the deteriorating security situation.

The address comes as his administration faces mounting criticism over its handling of the demonstrations, which followed weeks of student protests that had occasionally turned violent.

Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is expected to chair an emergency meeting of ministers at 0800 GMT on Monday.