France bans protests in parts of Paris as Macron slams Trump

France has implemented a ban on protests in certain areas of Paris, including the Elysee presidential palace, Bastille Square, both houses of parliament, and popular tourist spots like the Louvre and Champs-Elysees. The curfew is in effect from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, as the country grapples with ongoing unrest. The crisis began when students protested high prices and sought education reform, but soon turned violent, with rioters looting shops and clashing with police.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged the authorities lost control and couldn't predict the scale of the violence. Security measures are expected to ramp up for the upcoming weekend, as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu promised a "massive" deployment. While France has enjoyed two relatively calm nights, images of arson, smashed windows, and looted stores have been used by politicians to pressure President Emmanuel Macron's government.

US President Donald Trump blamed the unrest on migrants, jihadists, and communists, suggesting Macron had refused to close borders. Macron responded by accusing Trump and possibly Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using the unrest for political gain. Macron also warned that information about the crisis has been manipulated, including AI-generated images depicting non-existent events.

Marine Le Pen, Macron's far-right rival, dismissed Trump's account as "conspiratorial," claiming the images showed the "sad reality" of France under Macron's rule.