Rioting in France gives Trump a new talking point as he tries to stave off GOP midterm losses

Key Points:

• At a rally in Wichita, President Trump used footage of violent protests in France to warn that similar unrest could occur in the U.S. if Democrats win the midterm elections, framing the violence as a consequence of liberal immigration policies.
• Trump and some right-wing French leaders blamed the unrest on uncontrolled migration from the Middle East and Africa, despite evidence that the protests began as a student movement and were not primarily driven by immigrants.
• Far-right French politician Marine Le Pen linked the violence to migrants in poor urban areas and criticized President Macron’s handling of the situation, a narrative Trump echoed without explicitly endorsing her.
• Trump has made immigration a central theme in his campaign messaging, despite polling showing that his immigration stance is unpopular among many Americans who prioritize economic issues.
• Other Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, have also attributed the French unrest to immigration policies, reinforcing the hardline approach promoted by Trump ahead of the midterms.