On Monday after a weekend of rioting resulting in at least 2,400 arrests, President Trump called on France to shut its borders. The unrest reduced major cities to a state of anarchy as far-left groups and immigrant youths looted businesses. Trump posted on Truth Social that the migrants have taken over France. He added that they must CLOSE THE BORDERS, FAST! The New York Post reported these comments came after days of severe violence.
French President Emmanuel Macron did not post about the riots until hours after they began on Saturday. According to RedState, upon finally speaking, he declared, “No room for violence in our Republic.” The president vowed that individuals held accountable would face prosecution and punishment. The violence included firework mortars fired at police and the burning of a historic 143-year-old town hall in Limoges. Breitbart reported that Macron questioned how French people could do this to their country.
BREAKING:
The town hall of Limoges, built in 1873, didn’t survive today’s riots.
The building’s spire has now collapsed https://t.co/yleJx8MKCo
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 17, 2026
Although Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez tendered his resignation on Sunday, the President requested he remain in office. Nuñez admitted on France Inter radio that authorities lost control in some major cities. He stated that hundreds of businesses were looted and said you can’t look shopkeepers in the eye and lie. The New York Post noted that more than 500 police officers, gendarmes, and firefighters were injured during the clashes. One protester died after suffering a cardiac arrest in Paris.
Macron at a Celine Dion concert as France burns to the ground. https://t.co/sMo6Dpxwsl
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) October 17, 2026
Macron faced heavy criticism for attending a Celine Dion concert while the riots escalated across the nation. French media reports said he and his wife arrived and left discreetly among roughly 35,000 spectators. People on X compared him to Nero fiddling while Rome burned. RedState noted that Macron refused to take accountability for the unrest in his Sunday address. Instead, he blamed extremists from far-left groups and criminals for the unrestrained violence.
Macron claimed that several hundred thousand citizens demonstrated with legitimate demands while others destroyed and looted. He blamed escalating fuel prices on the war between the United States and Iran instead of domestic policy. The President said he would travel to Gulf countries to secure energy supplies. He also failed to address the role of mass migration in the social framework, according to Breitbart. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced localized curfews would be imposed in cities like Marseille.
“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche…”
— Destination Télé (@DestinationTele) October 17, 2026
The riots have shaken the Schengen Area where identity checks are not systematic on arrivals. France and 28 other nations allow free movement across their borders. The situation remains volatile as officials work to restore order. Curfew details were set to be released later Monday. The President’s silence during the initial outbreak of violence has sparked intense debate among citizens.
