France riots become Republican midterm boogeyman

The French right-wing National Rally political party is capitalizing on violent protests in France for its pre-election campaign, just as President Donald Trump and his Republican allies in the United States have done. The unrest, primarily over education grievances, has also been used to stoke fears of immigration and the rise of communism, which Trump has repeatedly warned could threaten American civilization.

During a rally in Kansas on Monday, Trump alleged that the "radical Democrats" are the ones attempting to "conquer, loot, and burn" America, akin to what he said was happening in France. He made the claim without any evidence, stating that the situation in France is about immigration rather than schools.

The White House has echoed Trump's rhetoric via a post on his Truth Social platform. The civil unrest began with high school student demonstrations in Paris last month, which have now expanded into a nationwide movement due to poor school conditions and rising living costs. This has led to thousands of arrests and clashes between police and protesters.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the "unrestrained violence" perpetrated by "insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals." Approximately 550,000 people demonstrated in France on Saturday, according to the interior ministry, though a key union estimated the number at 800,000. The forceful police response to student demonstrators has also been criticized, resulting in dozens of investigations into officer conduct.

Other U.S. Republicans have followed Trump's lead, using the protests to rally voters and condemn immigration. Vice President Mike Pence shared a video of a historic town hall reportedly set ablaze by masked protesters on X, asserting that this is the future Democrats seek for the country.