US warns Americans in France as nationwide protests intensify
Fox News foreign correspondent Jeff Paul reports from France, where as many as 700,000 people are expected to join nationwide demonstrations and 70,000 police officers have been deployed. The U.S. Embassy is cautioning Americans about potential dangers and travel disruptions.
France mobilized 70,000 police officers Thursday as tens of thousands of people joined nationwide strikes and demonstrations organized after left-wing groups called for mass action.
The Eiffel Tower was closed in Paris, while riot police in Lyon used tear gas and charged protesters. Near Toulouse, a high school was set ablaze, Reuters reported.
“We need to turn up in big numbers on the streets today,” Reuters quoted CGT union leader Sophie Binet as saying.
The unrest follows a wave of violent demonstrations that shook France in October. Outgoing President Emmanuel Macron accused “ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic” of fueling the unrest.
A vehicle burns as demonstrators watch during a nationwide strike and protest over wages, living costs and public services in Lyon, France, on Nov. 5, 2026. (Reuters)
An official close to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said approximately 270,000 people had taken part in union-organized action across 180 rallies outside Paris by early Thursday.
The Associated Press reported that roughly one-third of France’s high schools were closed or unable to function. Some were affected by student blockades, while others had been disrupted by teacher strikes.
Toby Harris, an Australian tourist visiting Paris, told News Outlet that she believed the political demonstrations were important.
“So if things have to be closed, because people want to make a point, then I’m sort of all for it,” she added.
Ashley Bradshaw, a tourist from Utah, said outside the Eiffel Tower that a strike prevented her from visiting the opera. “It was a bummer, but we’re happy that we get to just be here in Paris,” she said.
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French high school students, officials and protesters confront riot police as garbage bins are used to block a street during school blockades ahead of a demonstration in Paris on Nov. 5, 2026. (Reuters)
Nuñez said the 70,000 officers sent to maintain order would have support from armored vehicles, drones and helicopters.
Authorities in Brittany said masked people attempted to block roads in Rennes and that some protesters carried out “serious acts of violence,” including throwing steel balls at police.
Protesters carry a banner and Communist flags during a nationwide strike and demonstration in Lyon, France, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (Reuters)
France’s major unions said the country is nearing recession as the number of planned layoffs continues to grow.
“Fuel, food products, rent, gas, electricity… everything’s going up except wages and pensions,” the unions said in a joint statement, according to the AP.
Riot police detain a protester during a demonstration in Lyon, France, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (Laurent Cipriani/AP)
Before the demonstrations began, the U.S. Embassy issued a security alert for Americans in France. The notice warned travelers to expect major disruptions, possible sudden curfews and a risk of violence.
The protests are unfolding as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of next May’s presidential election, with contenders looking to benefit from the growing movement.
A member of the French gendarmerie fires a tear-gas canister during a demonstration in Nantes, France, on Nov. 5, 2026. (Reuters)
Macron is barred by the Constitution from seeking a third consecutive term, while far-right politician Marine Le Pen is considered the leading candidate, the AP reported.
