The U.S. State Department declared that President Donald Trump's characterization of the situation in France is "spot on," a stance that stands in direct opposition to French President Emmanuel Macron's recent condemnation of foreign interference. This diplomatic friction emerged after Trump alleged that France has been taken over by migrants and should close its borders, remarks that Macron labeled as "unacceptable and stupid comments" driven by manipulated information.
Speaking at a midterms rally on Monday, Trump asserted that "the migrants have taken over France." He described the country as a "once great nation" that is currently being overrun by groups he identified as migrants, jihadists, and communists who harbor hostility toward Christianity and Western civilization. These comments followed a weekend of anti-government demonstrations in France that escalated into rioting and looting.
Macron responded on Wednesday by claiming there was "foreign manipulation of information" following the protests. He cited the spread of AI-generated images depicting scenes that never occurred in France, which he said led to the "stupid comments" from foreign leaders. While Macron stated he was referring to Trump "among others," he explicitly rejected claims of an invasion by hordes of migrants and Islamists, calling such narratives "completely false" according to the Associated Press.
Tommy Pigott, the State Department spokesperson, defended the President's position in a statement to Fox News Digital. Pigott said Trump "is on point as he is consistently on point," noting that the President has highlighted the dangers of mass migration for years, including during the current administration. Pigott argued that mass migration is "inherently destabilizing" and creates problems rather than solving them. He further stated that the State Department opposes international institutions that seek to impose agendas encouraging mass migration on sovereign nations.
Pigott added that Trump has raised this issue directly with world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly for two consecutive years, calling for an end to what he termed "illegal amassed migration." The spokesperson linked these migration pathways to criminal cartel groups, stating that such groups have traveled along these routes and benefit from the movement. Pigott concluded that from the State Department's perspective, the administration has taken concrete action to end the era of mass migration.
Meanwhile, the unrest in France continues to impact daily life. The Louvre and other major museums in Paris are scheduled to close on Saturday due to further planned protests. Reuters reported that businesses in central Paris have begun boarding up their windows out of concern for violence. French officials stated that more than 3,000 shops were looted and approximately 2,500 people were taken into police custody in connection with last weekend's nationwide protests.
In light of the security situation, Pigott urged Americans traveling abroad to register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP. This program allows the State Department to provide real-time information to registered U.S. citizens in specific countries. Pigott emphasized that State Department personnel at embassies and consulates work around the clock to assist Americans, handling issues ranging from lost passports to responses to security situations.