US President Donald Trump on Monday held French President Emmanuel Macron’s immigration policies responsible for the protests and riots in France, claiming the unrest could have been prevented had his French counterpart followed his advice on immigration.
“Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon, and that wasn’t the deal,” Trump said, alleging that immigration had significantly altered the demographic composition of the French capital. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said he had cautioned Macron years earlier against permitting large numbers of immigrants to enter France.
The Federation of Trade and Retail said the weekend violence had affected nearly 3,000 shops, prompting demands for government support for businesses that suffered damage during the riots. His comments came as French authorities introduced localised curfews and curbs on public gatherings in Paris, Lille, Nice and several other cities following a weekend marked by riots, looting and confrontations between protesters and police.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said localised measures were more suitable under the current circumstances, although he did not rule out the possibility of declaring a state of emergency. “My determination to restore order is absolute,” Lecornu told reporters. “Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it,” Macron said, questioning why French citizens would engage in acts of destruction against their own country. The French president refrained from declaring a state of emergency but said local authorities would be given the power to prohibit demonstrations when required to safeguard public buildings and commercial establishments.
The unrest has placed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government under increasing scrutiny over security lapses, damage to businesses and growing public discontent ahead of the next presidential election. The French government chose to impose targeted restrictions instead of introducing a blanket curfew across Paris.
French President Emmanuel Macron earlier condemned the destruction caused by the violence in a televised address, expressing outrage and shame over the scenes unfolding across the country.
