'France is burning': Trump blames immigration as violent riots engulf French cities

Donald Trump blamed immigration for violent riots in France in a Truth Social post on Sunday, as protests over rising living costs escalated into widespread violence across French cities including Limoges, Marseille, and Lyon. Government buildings were torched, stores looted, and 1,200 people arrested. French PM Lecornu blamed the 'ultra-left' and criminals.

US President Donald Trump blamed immigration for the wave of unrest sweeping France in a Truth Social post on Sunday, after weeks of protests over rising living costs and deteriorating public services escalated into widespread violence across several major cities. 'France is burning!' Trump wrote, accusing immigrants from 'an entirely different world' of contributing to the country's decline. He urged French authorities to 'close your Borders and take control, before it is too late!' His remarks followed one of France's most violent days of civil unrest in recent years, as demonstrations that had continued for weeks descended into rioting on Saturday. In the central French city of Limoges, a fire engulfed the 143-year-old city hall, with footage showing the building's spire collapsing. In Marseille, masked individuals forced their way into city hall and vandalized the property. The protest movement began last month among high school students in Paris's northern suburbs, where frustration over teacher shortages and deteriorating school facilities developed into a broader campaign against inequality and rising living costs. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the destruction and blamed the violence on the 'ultra-left' and criminals, warning against attempts to exploit the unrest for political purposes ahead of next year's presidential election. He said approximately 1,200 people had been arrested. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez estimated the turnout at approximately 550,000, while the CGT labor union placed the figure at 800,000. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attacks and planned a televised address on Sunday evening.