Macron Accuses Foreign Leaders of Exploiting France Riots and Vows No Repeat Ahead of Saturday Protests

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Qatar on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron accused foreign leaders of exploiting France's recent riots for political purposes, saying there had been "foreign manipulation of information" spread through fake AI-generated videos even though no direct foreign interference in the unrest itself was detected. His remarks were a pointed rebuke of leaders including US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose comments on the riots Macron dismissed as "stupid."

The riots, which erupted on October 17, were driven by protests over rising living costs and poor school conditions, drawing on labor unions, student groups and activists seeking to revive the Yellow Vest movement of 2018. At least 1,800 people were arrested following the weekend violence. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that curfews remained in place in some areas through this week, and the government announced it would deploy Sentinelle military forces to help maintain order ahead of a further wave of protests planned for Saturday.

Macron said he would hold a meeting with French intelligence services on Thursday to prepare for Saturday's demonstrations. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed the Sentinelle deployment. Macron also vowed to hold accountable those who, in his words, "sought to bring down the Republic," and pledged there would be no repeat of the scenes of rioting and looting that drew widespread international attention and domestic political criticism.