Macron accuses foreign leaders of exploiting France's unrest with AI clips
President Emmanuel Macron said several foreign leaders, including Donald Trump, had made ill-informed remarks about the riots and used them for political gain. He pointed to AI-generated videos as a factor behind some of those comments. Another demonstration over the rising cost of living is expected next Saturday.
Macron linked remarks by overseas politicians to fabricated AI footage depicting violence that did not occur. He singled out election-season incentives, with US midterms and Israeli elections approaching, while not naming Trump or Netanyahu directly. Both had recently tied France’s disturbances to immigration or Islamist extremism.
The unrest followed large peaceful cost-of-living marches and weeks of student protests that shut schools. Paris and other cities imposed limited nighttime curfews, and Macron planned a Thursday intelligence briefing. A further cost-of-living protest is scheduled for the next Saturday.
The dispute could deepen public distrust in online video and in political statements made during election campaigns. Communities already unsettled by rising living costs and recent disorder may feel further stigmatised by claims linking unrest to migration or religion. Curfews and official warnings may reassure some residents but could also strain relations with protesters and local businesses. The planned weekend demonstration may test whether authorities can separate peaceful cost-of-living grievances from violence, shaping public debate in the months ahead.