State Department Backs Trump on France Protests as Macron Responds

The State Department backed President Donald Trump’s assessment of France, telling News Outlet that his views were “spot on” after French President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he called “unacceptable and stupid comments” from foreign leaders about the unrest sweeping his country.

At a Monday midterm-election rally, Trump claimed that “the migrants have taken over France” and urged the country to seal its borders after anti-government protests over the weekend escalated into looting and riots. He described France as a “once great nation” that was being “conquered, looted and burned to the ground” by migrants, jihadists and communists who, he said, oppose Christianity and Western civilization.

Macron responded Wednesday by accusing foreign actors of manipulating information surrounding the demonstrations. He pointed to AI-generated images depicting events that never occurred in France and said the misinformation had fueled “unacceptable and stupid comments from many people including foreign leaders.” Macron identified Trump as one of those leaders, saying claims that France had been overrun by migrants and Islamists were “completely false,” according to The Associated Press.

Asked about Macron’s criticism, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Trump’s assessment remained accurate, describing the president as “on point” and consistently so.

“He has been clear about the dangers of mass migration for years, especially since the beginning of this administration, but certainly long beforehand as well. The president has secured the border on day one when it comes to the United States of America,” Pigott said. “But we’ve also been clear from the State Department’s perspective that we are going to oppose international institutions, for example, that seek to impose an agenda upon sovereign nations to encourage mass migration.”

Pigott called mass migration inherently destabilizing, arguing that it does not resolve underlying problems but instead creates new ones. He said Trump had repeatedly raised the issue, including in response to the latest protests in France.

“He’s also raised it directly to world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly,” Pigott said, noting that Trump had addressed the issue for two consecutive years and urged an end to what he called destructive policies involving illegal mass migration. He argued that such migration routes benefit criminal cartels, which the administration has also observed in the Western Hemisphere. “The president is spot on, he’s bringing attention to this issue, he is taking action to address this issue and, from the State Department’s perspective, we have also taken concrete action to end the era of mass migration,” Pigott said.

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The Louvre and several other prominent Paris museums are expected to close Saturday as additional demonstrations are planned in the French capital, the AP reported. Reuters said businesses in central Paris have begun boarding up windows amid fears that renewed protests could trigger more violence.

French authorities reported that more than 3,000 businesses had been looted, while approximately 2,500 people were placed in police custody in connection with the nationwide protests held the previous weekend.

Pigott also urged Americans traveling overseas to enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP. “That program lets you tell us which countries you’re going to so that we can provide real-time information to Americans in the country that have registered,” he told News Outlet.

The State Department has personnel at embassies and consulates around the world available around the clock to assist Americans, Pigott said. Travelers facing problems abroad should contact the nearest embassy or consulate, he added, whether they need help with a lost passport, updated safety information or assistance during a security emergency.