Trump uses France riots to push unsubstantiated immigration claims ahead of midterms

Summary

Donald Trump and his inner circle are using unrest in France to push claims that immigration is to blame for the riots, including by showing French protest footage at midterm rallies. France 24 reports there is no evidence linking immigration to the unrest, and says the claims prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to accuse world leaders of making stupid comments at France's expense. The Guardian reports that Trump told a crowd in Kansas on Monday that migrants and communists were responsible, and that conservative media, including Fox News, have followed his line. The episode comes as Republicans face mounting pressure ahead of the November midterm elections, and Trump's approval rating has reportedly hit a record low.

Timeline

1. France 24

   21 Oct 2026, 19:28 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Trump and his inner circle are using the unrest in France to push unsubstantiated claims blaming the riots on immigration, even showing French protest footage at midterm rallies, and that there is no evidence linking immigration to the unrest.

2. The Guardian

   22 Oct 2026, 11:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Trump told a crowd in Kansas on Monday that migrants and communists were responsible for the scenes of unrest in France, and that Fox News and other conservative media have followed his line ahead of the midterms.