Sen. Eric Schmitt said the turmoil in France should serve as a warning about the direction he believes Democrats want to take the United States, while pointing to new defense-industry jobs and a federal crime-fighting initiative in Missouri as evidence of what Republican cooperation with the Trump administration can accomplish.
“You see what’s happening in France. That’s exactly what they want here, the DSA Democrats,” the Missouri Republican told Fox News Digital.
His comments came as France faced riots, arson and looting following demonstrations over higher living costs and deteriorating public services. The unrest led authorities to impose curfews in parts of Paris and other cities.
Schmitt characterized the Democratic Party as increasingly “post-American and anti-Western civilization,” saying he believes its political priorities have moved away from traditional national interests.
With control of the House considered “up for grabs,” Schmitt said Republicans must clearly communicate the stakes to voters while highlighting the policies and results they say they have delivered.
Discussing the potential impact of a Democratic House on President Trump’s agenda, Schmitt accused Democrats of blocking Republican initiatives involving immigration, permitting changes and regulatory reform.
He also argued that Democratic control could threaten funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and bring back what he described as the politicization of federal agencies during the Biden administration.
At the same time, Schmitt said Republicans must offer voters more than warnings about Democrats. He pointed to manufacturing growth and increased public-safety enforcement as examples of what he believes the party is achieving through its partnership with the Trump administration.
In Missouri, Schmitt cited Boeing’s selection to produce the Air Force’s F-47 and the Navy’s next-generation F/A-XX fighter aircraft as a major boost for the state’s manufacturing sector.
Boeing won the Air Force contract last year and secured the Navy agreement in September.
Schmitt, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the two programs are expected to create 7,000 direct jobs, along with further employment for suppliers and nearby businesses.
“It means that the goal we’ve been fighting for, which is that St. Louis is the defense tech capital of the United States of America, is coming true,” he said.
The senator said he worked with Trump and members of the administration to help bring the defense programs to Missouri, calling them “generational opportunities” for workers across the state.
“You think of the good-paying jobs that’s going to mean for generations to come, it’s just a game changer,” Schmitt said.
He connected the fighter programs to the broader strategic rivalry with China, arguing that the new aircraft will be important to meeting U.S. military needs in the Pacific region.
Schmitt also pointed to Operation Show Me Justice, an ATF-led law-enforcement effort in St. Louis. According to the Justice Department, the operation produced 435 arrests and led to the seizure of 166 firearms.
Officials said the operation also recovered 81 kilograms of drugs and more than $1.25 million believed to be connected to suspected illegal gun and drug transactions. Authorities announced its conclusion on Oct. 15.
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Schmitt said his discussions with administration officials have centered on a direct appeal for assistance in his hometown.
“St. Louis, we need your help,” he said.
The former Missouri attorney general described the human cost of violent crime, recalling families forced to clean up shattered glass and parents left to bury their children.
“We don’t need to accept this,” he said. “We just don’t need to accept the idea that violent crime needs to be in the headlines every single day.”
He pledged the effort would continue beyond the surge.
“This isn’t a one-and-done deal. There are more resources coming,” Schmitt said.
For families wanting to send children safely to school, visit a park or attend a Cardinals game downtown, he said the goal is a better quality of life.
“I think the message is help is on the way, and there are real tangible results now, not just rhetoric, not just empty promises,” Schmitt said.
“We’re not letting up.”
Schmitt’s third major priority is modernizing St. Louis Lambert International Airport, an effort he linked to the region’s aerospace growth and aviation history.
His Modern Skies Act would fund improvements to air traffic control technology, towers and airport terminals. He said midsize airports need help securing investments that larger hubs can more readily finance.
“St. Louis is the gateway to the West,” he said. “It deserves a world-class airport.”
The proposal remains a legislative push rather than a guaranteed funding award for Lambert. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said during an October visit that airport funding would be competitive.
For Schmitt, those priorities form part of the argument Republicans need to make as voters weigh control of Congress.
He cast the election as “common sense versus crazy,” but cautioned that Republicans cannot assume their supporters will show up.
“I just don’t think you can take anything for granted,” Schmitt said. “I think we have to fight for every vote and tell an important story.”
“I think if we do that, we’re gonna hold on to the Senate, and the House is up for grabs.”
