Macron hits back at claims blaming Muslims for France unrest

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday accused foreign leaders, including those across the Atlantic, of exploiting recent rioting and looting in France for political gain, warning that misleading claims and AI-generated images were fuelling false narratives about the unrest.

Protests over soaring living costs have triggered widespread rioting and looting, drawing international attention and shocking many French citizens.

US President Donald Trump has used the unrest to rally his political supporters, making unsubstantiated claims that Muslim migrants were responsible for the violence and urging Macron to close France’s borders before it was too late, Daily Sabah reported.

Responding to the criticism, Macron said foreign manipulation of information had followed the looting in Paris and other French cities last weekend.

"This has led to comments that are as unacceptable as they are stupid, from many people, including foreign leaders," he said.

Asked whether he was referring to Trump, Macron replied, "Among others."

He said AI-generated images had depicted scenes that never occurred in France, while false claims circulated that the country had been invaded by large numbers of migrants and Islamists.

Macron did not identify the images in question or explain how their falsity had been established.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said his office could provide the countries concerned with the necessary clarification to help them avoid spreading or amplifying misinformation and making baseless claims on social media.

Macron and Trump once enjoyed a close relationship, but the US president has repeatedly mocked his French counterpart in public speeches.

"The fact is, all the people who are speaking ill of our country right now are people who don't love our country," Macron said.

He accused foreign leaders campaigning for elections of repeating AI-generated content or promoting narratives advanced by certain groups about the unrest.

"When I see leaders who are in the middle of election campaigns, whether in the region or on the other side of the Atlantic – who sometimes naively repeat AI-generated content or spread narratives that certain circles are clearly trying to promote about what happened in France – they're using our country for their own political campaigns," he said. "And we don't need that."

Macron made the remarks in Qatar at the end of a tour of key energy suppliers in Gulf Arab states, aimed at securing additional supplies of oil, gas, diesel and jet fuel amid an energy crisis and rising prices.

During the visit, he secured an additional 100,000 metric tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates, with a further 100,000 tonnes to be confirmed in Bahrain.

The Elysee Palace said France could secure nearly 295,000 additional tonnes of diesel per month, including supplies from Saudi Arabia. The additional volume would be equivalent to more than 10% of France's monthly diesel consumption.

Macron later travelled to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to continue efforts to secure and diversify oil and gas supplies, his office said.

Earlier this month, the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy democracies agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products, beginning with substantial quantities of diesel after fuel prices in the United States hit a record high.

Macron said France had initiated the G7 meeting that led to the release of strategic reserves, adding that the measures, implemented at the national level, were expected to help bring prices down from early November.

Petrol, energy and food prices have surged in recent months, fuelling public anger. Macron said the additional diesel supplies addressed "some of the anxieties", although it remained unclear whether they would ease protesters' broader grievances.

He also acknowledged concerns among high school and university students, who have raised issues ranging from underfunded schools and deteriorating facilities to staff shortages, particularly in lower-income neighbourhoods.

Some students have also complained that school days, often running from 8am to 6pm, are exhausting and that the university admissions system is complex and unfair.

France has experienced two consecutive quiet nights since the weekend's unrest, with curfews imposed in parts of several major cities, including limited areas of Paris.

Further demonstrations were planned for Thursday and Saturday following calls from student unions and groups associated with the Yellow Vest movement, whose protests over fuel prices shook France in 2018 and 2019.

Paris police said on Wednesday they would ban a planned demonstration in the capital on Thursday, citing concerns about public safety and the protection of property.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who met union representatives on Wednesday, said a "massive" security operation was being prepared for Saturday to prevent a repeat of the violence caused by small groups of rioters and address shortcomings exposed in security arrangements.

Macron said the authorities would use all available legal means to prevent further disturbances.

"Those who intend to cause disturbances in city centres next Saturday will be prevented from doing so," he said, adding that the government would provide a detailed update on measures covering intelligence gathering, security and preparations for the coming weeks.