French President Emmanuel Macron has launched a sharp attack on US President Donald Trump over claims linking Muslim migrants to recent riots in France, accusing foreign leaders of exploiting the country’s unrest to score political points.
Macron described the remarks as unacceptable and stupid, warning that misleading narratives and artificial intelligence-generated images were being used to distort the reality of events in France.
Speaking on Wednesday, Macron condemned what he called foreign manipulation of information following a weekend of violence and looting in Paris and other French cities.
Trump had seized on the unrest to rally his political supporters, making unsubstantiated claims that Muslim migrants were responsible for the violence and urging Macron to tighten border controls before the situation deteriorated further.
Although Macron did not initially name Trump directly, he confirmed that the American president was among those whose comments he was criticising.
The French leader also raised the alarm over the circulation of AI-generated images allegedly portraying events that never occurred, warning that fabricated content was fuelling false claims about migration and security in France.
Macron rejected claims that France had been overrun by migrants and Islamists, describing such narratives as completely false.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said his office was prepared to clarify the situation to foreign governments to prevent misinformation from spreading or being amplified through social media.
Macron accused some political leaders, particularly those campaigning for elections, of repeating misleading claims about France for domestic political advantage.
He warned that France should not become a tool for foreign political campaigns, especially when unverified content and manipulated images were being used to shape public opinion.
The controversy has intensified scrutiny of how misinformation and AI-generated material can inflame political tensions during periods of civil unrest.
The riots, which followed protests over rising living costs, sparked widespread concern after incidents of looting and violence rocked Paris and other French cities.
The latest exchange also adds to the history of public friction between Macron and Trump, whose once-cordial relationship has increasingly been marked by criticism and personal jabs.
Macron’s intervention underscores a growing battle over the narrative surrounding France’s unrest, with the French president warning against attempts to turn a domestic crisis into an international political weapon.
