President Donald Trump urged France to close its borders Monday after a weekend of rioting and looting left nearly 1,000 police officers injured and thousands arrested across the country.
“The migrants have taken over France,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, according to Fox News. “They must CLOSE THE BORDERS, FAST!”
The president’s warning came as French authorities struggled with the fallout from violence in Paris, Marseille and other cities, while student protesters blocked access to the Louvre Museum on Monday.
Fox News reported approximately 2,400 arrests and said nearly 3,000 stores had been affected by the unrest.
Trump blamed immigration, but the demonstrations developed from weeks of student protests over school conditions, public services and rising living costs. Euronews reported that roughly half a million people participated in Saturday’s nationwide demonstrations, with masked groups attacking police, looting stores and setting fires in some locations.
French Leaders Face Pressure To Restore Order
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for targeted local curfews while ruling out a blanket curfew across Paris, according to Fox News.
“My determination to restore order is absolute,” Lecornu said.
He accused “ultra-left radical groups” of seeking to create “profound unrest” ahead of France’s presidential election. Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon disputed the accusation, demanding evidence and telling the prime minister to “apologize, keep quiet and stop fanning the flames of unrest.”
The violence also exposed shortcomings in the government’s preparations. Le Monde reported that police units were overwhelmed in several cities as authorities struggled to anticipate how many people mobilized online would take to the streets. Its reporting described groups involved in the disorder as a mixture that included political activists and opportunistic looters.
President Emmanuel Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s offer to resign despite acknowledging security and intelligence failures. Approximately 60,000 law enforcement personnel had been deployed nationwide Saturday, Euronews reported.
Louvre Closes As Disruptions Continue
The unrest reached one of France’s most recognizable landmarks Monday, with visitors unable to enter the Louvre.
“Due to student strikes the museum is currently closed,” the museum announced on X, according to Fox News.
Euronews reported that the blockade supported the student protest movement and opposed the police response to demonstrations. The closure extended the disruption beyond the weekend’s street violence to a major international tourist destination.
Trump Heads To Kansas For Midterm Rally
Trump’s comments came ahead of another stop in his push to maintain Republican control of Congress.
The president is scheduled to appear Monday evening at Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, Kansas, near Wichita. The official event listing places his remarks at 6 p.m. Central — 7 p.m. Eastern.
The rally will support Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who faces Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, a Methodist minister. Local outlet KMUW reported that the Kansas appearance is part of Trump’s broader campaign swing supporting Republican candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
