Macron rejects claims blaming migrants for French riots as he defends Gulf tour

Summary

French President Emmanuel Macron rejected claims blaming migrants for the violent protests in France on October 17 and condemned comments by 'foreign leaders' on the unrest. He has arrived in Saudi Arabia on a three-day Persian Gulf tour, which he defended after being criticized for his absence from Paris during the violence. Macron said he refused to cancel the trip so as not to show 'nervousness'. On Thursday morning he is set to meet intelligence services at the Elysee during a security council meeting.

Timeline

1. France 24

   21 Oct 2026, 15:29 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Macron condemned comments by 'foreign leaders' on the violent protests in France on October 17, rejecting Trump's claims blaming migrants, and that he has arrived in Saudi Arabia as part of his Gulf tour.

2. Le Monde

   22 Oct 2026, 08:19 UTCSource ↗

   Le Monde reports that Macron defended his three-day Persian Gulf tour amid criticism of his absence from Paris after the violence of the weekend of October 17, saying he refused to cancel it so as not to show 'nervousness', and that he is set to meet intelligence services at the Elysee on Thursday morning during a security council meeting.