US President Donald Trump has blamed France's immigration policies for what he described as the country's deteriorating situation, claiming that it had opened its borders to people who hate the country. He also rejected the suggestion that the ongoing protests in France were driven by concerns over education funding.
Speaking at a campaign rally for Republican candidates in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, Trump criticised French policing and immigration policies, using the unrest to defend his administration's own approach to immigration.
"They have police in France, but they're not allowed to do their job. So France is right now burning down because it opens its borders to people who hate it. These are people who hate it. They hate France. They hate the people of France," Trump said.
Trump targets US immigration critics
Drawing a comparison with American immigration policy, Trump argued that the US should prevent people who oppose the country from entering. He also targeted Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff over his alleged support for immigration.
"And you know what you do with those people? Never let them come into your country. That's what we do. But now, Ossoff (Georgia senator) wants to import millions and millions of anti-American third-world migrants who see our civilization as nothing but a target to loot, plunder, and pillage. And we're not going to let that happen. We're not letting it happen," Trump said.
The remarks come amid a broader immigration crackdown by his administration. The US State Department has confirmed that more than 300,000 visas have been revoked since Trump returned to office.
Last month, the administration also froze certain Green Card filings by eight firms, including India's Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys. It has also launched probes into nine elite universities over alleged fraud and concerns about American job losses.
Protests over living costs and education funding
The unrest in France has been driven by concerns over rising living costs and inadequate funding for education. Demonstrations have taken place across the country, with clashes between protesters and security forces reported in several cities.
In Paris, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds after violence erupted late on Saturday. Similar confrontations were reported in Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes and Toulouse.
According to France 24, as cited by ANI, the French government estimated that around 4,10,000 people had taken part in protests nationwide, while organisers put the figure at nearly 8,00,000. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said around 100 protesters had been arrested.