French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly reacted to a wave of public statements by foreign leaders and officials issued amid street protests in the republic. According to the head of state, over the past few days, many foreign politicians have made "unconsidered loud statements" which, in his assessment, do not correspond to reality and create a false picture of what is happening in France. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the BFMTV television channel.
Foreign interference not confirmed
Answering questions about potential external influence on the internal political situation, Macron emphasized that "there has been no obvious foreign interference in the French protests." At the same time, he acknowledged instances of information manipulation by the leadership of other countries, which, according to him, "have led to unacceptable and meaningless comments from many, including foreign leaders." Thus, the French president effectively separated the country's real internal problems from external information pressure.
The role of artificial intelligence in the information space
The head of state drew special attention to the active spread online of photographs and videos generated using artificial intelligence. "We have seen images created by artificial intelligence. They showed scenes that never happened in France," Macron said. In his view, such fake materials amplify panic and distort the perception of events both inside the country and abroad, making it difficult to adequately assess the scale of the protests.
"These people annoy me"
Commenting on the criticism directed at France, the president expressed personal dissatisfaction: "These people annoy me!.. We have problems, but we will deal with them methodically, with respect, determination and firmness (...), but there is no need to say whatever comes to mind." He stressed that criticism from certain foreign figures indicates not concern for France, but a negative attitude toward the country, and urged refraining from arbitrary assessments.
Meeting with intelligence and government
Against the backdrop of recent events, Macron announced that on October 22 he will hold a meeting with intelligence service representatives, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, and relevant ministers. The main purpose of the meeting will be to receive a detailed report on the protests that took place on October 17, including an assessment of their scale, causes, and potential security threats. This session is intended to serve as the basis for further government decisions on stabilizing the situation.
Context: protests and Washington's reaction
Macron's remarks came against the backdrop of large-scale street protests in France accompanied by clashes, arrests, and significant infrastructure damage. Earlier, US President Donald Trump linked the mass protests in France to migration policy and urged Paris to "close the borders." These statements became part of a series of foreign comments to which the French leader has now responded, drawing a line between constructive discussion and, in his words, "meaningless comments."
