Trump, Waltz Link France Riots to Mass Immigration

Former President Donald Trump stated Tuesday that France's escalating riots are a result of "out of control mass migration." U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz echoed these concerns, linking the unrest to immigration and economic policies.

"I think we would always condemn lawlessness, condemn the violence that we're seeing in Paris," Waltz told Fox News Digital. "But I think we also have to recognize that when you have open borders, when you have this pro-migration, unchecked immigration kind of policy, coupled with policies over the years that deny people basic energy, that overspend on all kinds of other government programs, that you see a level of frustration boiling to the surface."

Trump commented as the unrest intensified, arguing that the protests extended beyond students' complaints about France's education system. "What’s happening in France is nothing less than out of control mass migration. This isn’t about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. Waltz added, "Unfortunately, I think you're seeing the results of some of that, and President Trump has brought that to light."

The comments coincided with France experiencing significant school unrest. On Tuesday, police deployed tear gas in Paris and other cities. The Interior Ministry reported 6,100 arrests, with the majority being minors. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the clashes as causing the school system's "heaviest toll in decades."

According to Reuters, Lecornu also stated that at least 215 teenagers and 85 school staff members were injured, and over 700 police officers sustained injuries. Clashes occurred in Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, and Rennes, where protesters set fires and threw projectiles. Over half of France's approximately 3,700 high schools were blockaded or anticipated closures, the High School Students Union reported. Paris police noted that clashes occurred when about 300 individuals attempted to confront security forces, though the protest was generally calm elsewhere.

Theo Wold, a former assistant attorney general and deputy assistant White House counsel under Trump, also suggested that immigration was contributing to the unrest. "The French are notorious for strikes, labor stoppages and street demonstrations. It’s a core part of the Fifth Republic’s civic culture," Wold told Fox News Digital. "What’s new is the violence, lawlessness and rioting. This is a consequence of mass immigration."

While Trump, Waltz, and Wold pointed to immigration, reports from Reuters and AP indicated the protest movement began due to issues with school conditions, including teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating buildings. Students have cited these factors, along with inadequate education funding, as grievances.

The unrest has become increasingly entangled in a political contest ahead of France's presidential election in April and May 2027. French authorities and political opponents have accused lawmakers and mayors from the hard-left France Unbowed party of inciting the demonstrations, an accusation the party denies.