Trump blames immigration, urges France border closure

US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that France is burning. He wrote that immigration of people from an entirely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has shattered that once great country and urged France to close its borders and take control before it is too late. The remarks followed October 17 demonstrations in Paris and across France that began over fuel prices and purchasing power. Some marches escalated into mobs throwing projectiles, looting and setting fires in Paris, Marseille and Lille; the Limoges Town Hall burned and its roof collapsed. Authorities reported about 1,800 arrests, around 500 injured emergency workers and roughly 1,500 damaged shops. French President Emmanuel Macron convened crisis talks and spoke at 8pm, stating there is no room for violence in the Republic and that those who attacked prefectures, businesses and town halls will be prosecuted and punished. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government will not be intimidated by anyone using the violence as a warm-up before the presidential election and blamed the ultra-left. The Interior Ministry said the movement showed strong mobilisation of far-left elements whose sole intent is to incite disorder. Vice President JD Vance wrote that Western liberals imported the third world into France in the name of diversity and compassion and that this is the future congressional Democrats seek. Protester totals remain disputed: the Interior Ministry put the figure above 550,000 while organizers claimed 800,000. Trump and Vance attributed the unrest to immigration; French officials attributed the violence to far-left elements.