Trump says ‘France is burning’, urges Macron to act amid violent protests

US President Donald Trump has blamed what he described as lax immigration policies for unrest in France following a wave of violent protests over the weekend, urging French President Emmanuel Macron to close the country’s borders and regain control of the situation.

“France is burning! The immigration of people from an entirely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has shattered that once great country,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“Close your Borders and take control, before it is too late!” he added.

Trump’s comments came as France struggled to assess the damage caused by widespread unrest on Saturday, including the torching of a historic town hall. More than 2,000 people were arrested, placing additional pressure on Macron as the country approaches elections to choose his successor in six months.

The French government faced mounting demands to restore public order and address the violence. Macron was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting with senior government officials on Sunday afternoon before delivering a televised address to the nation at 8 pm local time. The address was due to be broadcast at 5 am on Monday, Australian Eastern Time (AET).

The unrest has intensified political pressure on Macron, with the government confronting questions over public safety, the scale of the damage and its response to the protests. However, the information available in the report does not establish the specific causes of the demonstrations or independently substantiate Trump’s claims linking the unrest to immigration.

Trump’s remarks add an international political dimension to the crisis, with the US president publicly urging Macron to take a tougher approach to border controls. His comments reflect his broader criticism of immigration policies, although no response from the French president to Trump’s statement was included in the report.

UK army chief warns public to prepare for potential war

Separately, Britain’s army chief has warned the public to prepare for the possibility of war, saying political leaders would soon begin what he described as a “frank conversation” about the sacrifices required to protect the country.

The warning comes amid wider concerns about national security and the responsibilities governments may need to place on the public in the event of a serious conflict.

The report did not provide further details about the circumstances behind the British army chief’s warning, the potential nature of a conflict or the specific sacrifices that political leaders might ask the public to make.

The developments in France and Britain highlight growing political and security concerns in Europe, ranging from public disorder and immigration debates to preparations for potential military threats.

Source: News.com.au