President Donald Trump said Monday that Paris would soon be “a Muslim city,” blaming immigration for the violent protests that swept France over the weekend.
“Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Oct. 19 before leaving on Marine One, Euronews reported. He said the unrest “has to do with immigration, not schools, not anything.”
Trump said he had warned President Emmanuel Macron years ago. “I told him the first time I met him, which was years ago in my first term. Close up your borders,” he said. “We closed our borders; he didn’t.”
He also said Macron had “a little bit of a problem with energy.” Trump offered no evidence for his claim about Paris, and French authorities have not linked immigrants to the rioting, the Associated Press reported.
What drove the protests
Student groups have staged school blockades since mid-September over poor conditions in schools. On Saturday, Oct. 17, they were joined by the CGT labor union and by activists hoping to revive the “yellow vest” movement, with many protesters angry over rising fuel, energy and food prices.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said about 550,000 people joined 110 marches across the country. Organizers put the figure at about 800,000.
Most marches were peaceful, but looting, fires and clashes broke out in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and other cities. In Limoges, City Hall was set on fire. At least 2,400 people were arrested, according to an AP report carried by PBS NewsHour.
Macron blames far-left groups
In a televised address Sunday, Macron blamed “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals.”
“Those who looted will have to pay for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” he said.
Macron said he had told regional prefects to work with mayors to protect public buildings in the coming weeks, including by banning protests when necessary.