Macron blames foreign leaders for exploiting France’s social unrest
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday blamed “foreign leaders,” including those “on the other side of the Atlantic,” for attempting to exploit France’s tense social climate for their own political agenda, reports BritPanorama.
Protests against rising living costs have escalated into widespread rioting and looting across the country. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has seized upon the violence to mobilize his political base, making unsubstantiated claims that Muslim migrants are causing the unrest.
In response to the riots, Trump urged Macron to “close your borders and take control before it is too late!” Macron countered by stating there has been “foreign manipulation of information in the aftermath” of the looting in Paris and other French cities.
“And that has led to comments that are as unacceptable as they are stupid, from many people, including foreign leaders,” Macron said. When asked if he was specifically referring to Trump, he replied, “Among others.”
Macron also highlighted the use of AI-generated images to perpetuate false narratives about an invasion of migrants and Islamists in France. He remarked, “We’ve seen AI-generated images depicting scenes that never actually happened in France, which is completely false.”
The French president did not clarify which AI-generated images he was referencing, nor the basis for deeming them false. Macron’s relationship with Trump has soured; the former U.S. president frequently mocks him in public speeches.
“The fact is, all the people who are speaking ill of our country right now are people who don’t love our country,” Macron asserted. “So those people really bother me.”
Macron further elaborated, saying, “When I see leaders who are in the middle of election campaigns, whether in the region or on the other side of the Atlantic — who sometimes naively repeat AI-generated content or spread narratives that certain circles are clearly trying to promote about what happened in France — they’re using our country for their own political campaigns. And we don’t need that.”
The comments came while Macron was speaking in Qatar at the end of an energy-focused tour of the Gulf, where he secured an additional 100,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates, with another 100,000 tonnes set to be confirmed in Bahrain.
His office indicated that the trip aimed to address the energy crisis and rising energy prices, securing vital oil, gas, diesel, and jet fuel supplies amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Furthermore, the Élysée reported that nearly 295,000 additional tonnes of diesel per month could be secured, including substantial amounts from Saudi Arabia, which would represent over 10% of France’s monthly diesel consumption.
This development underscores the complexities of balancing domestic unrest with international diplomatic and economic commitments, revealing the multifaceted challenges facing Macron’s administration in 2025.
