Trump’s France Remarks Get Strong Support From State Department
Andrew Powell · Oct 23, 2026 · 2 min read
The State Department is standing behind President Donald Trump after French President Emmanuel Macron accused foreign leaders of making irresponsible comments about unrest that has swept across France.
At a midterm election rally Monday, Trump blamed migrants for the turmoil and called on France to shut its borders, according to Fox News.
He described the country as a "once great nation" being "conquered, looted and burned to the ground by migrants, jihadists and communists who hate Christianity" and "the Western civilization itself."
Macron responded Wednesday by accusing foreign actors of manipulating information surrounding the demonstrations. He said artificial intelligence-generated images had circulated showing events that never took place in France, contributing to what he called "unacceptable and stupid comments" from foreign leaders.
Macron said Trump was among those he was referring to. He also rejected claims that France had been overrun by migrants and Islamists, according to The Associated Press.
Asked about Macron's criticism, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott strongly defended Trump's position.
"He's on point as he is consistently on point," Pigott told Fox News Digital.
Pigott said Trump has warned about the effects of mass migration for years and pointed to the administration's immigration policies in the United States.
The State Department spokesperson also argued that international organizations should not pressure sovereign countries to adopt policies encouraging large-scale migration.
"Mass migration is inherently destabilizing," Pigott said, adding that the administration believes such policies can create additional problems rather than resolve existing ones.
Pigott said Trump has raised the issue with foreign leaders, including during speeches at the United Nations General Assembly. He also linked migration routes to criminal cartel activity in the Western Hemisphere.
The dispute comes as France braces for another round of demonstrations. The Louvre and other major Paris museums are expected to close Saturday as additional protests are planned, while businesses in central Paris have begun boarding up windows amid concerns about possible violence, according to Reuters and the AP.
French officials said more than 3,000 businesses were looted and approximately 2,500 people were taken into police custody following last weekend's nationwide unrest.
Pigott also urged Americans traveling overseas to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
He said Americans who encounter problems abroad can contact U.S. embassies and consulates for assistance with situations ranging from lost passports to security concerns.