--- title: "\"France is Burning\": Trump Urges Paris to Close Borders and Blames Migrants for Country's Destruction" description: "Donald Trump urged the French authorities to close borders and take the situation under control, blaming migrants for the country's destruction. The statement came against the backdrop of protests that drew over 550,000 people on October 17." date: 2026-10-18T13:31:37.187Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/trump-urges-france-to-close-borders tags: [trump, france-protests, migration, europe, white-house] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "France is Burning": Trump Urges Paris to Close Borders and Blames Migrants for Country's Destruction ![Donald Trump speaking at a press conference against the background of American flags in a blue suit](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/trump-prizval-franciyu-zakryt-granitsy/trump-prizval-franciyu-zakryt-granitsy-1.webp) ## Key Points - Trump urged France to close borders and take the situation under control - He blamed migrants for the country's destruction and a new wave of chaos - Protests in France began on September 17 with a strike at the Saint-Exupéry lyceum - On October 17, rallies gathered at least 550k participants; the town hall burned in Limoges, about 400 people were detained US President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, called on the French authorities to close state borders and take the situation in the country under full control. The statement came against the background of mass protests that have been sweeping various French cities for several weeks. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the White House chief's post. ### "France is Burning" In the text of the post, the US leader directly linked the new wave of unrest to migration. In his conviction, it is migrants who "destroyed the republic and its greatness." "France is burning! The migration of people from a completely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has destroyed a once-great country. Close the borders and take control of the situation before it's too late!" Trump stated. ### A Recurring Narrative This is not the first time the US president has commented on events in France. Earlier, he had already linked the start of the protests to "uncontrolled mass migration and Islam." Thus, in his public rhetoric, the migration factor remains a key explanation for social instability in Europe, including France. ### From School Strike to Barricades The wave of protests in France itself, according to RBC-Ukraine, began in schools in the suburbs of Paris. The initiator was a strike at the Saint-Exupéry lyceum, where on September 17 teachers demanded a solution to the shortage of educators. Students supported their demands, but by the next morning the protest took on a more radical character—barricades began to be erected near the lyceum. ### Scale and Consequences Subsequently, students, trade unions, and supporters of the "yellow vests" movement, who also opposed rising prices, joined the protesters. The culmination was the mass rallies on October 17 against the rising cost of living: according to available data, at least 550,000 people took part in them. During the demonstrations, unrest and riots broke out in several cities. In particular, in Limoges, fire destroyed the 19th-century town hall building, and law enforcement detained about 400 people. ### Significance of the Statement Trump's call to close borders comes as the French authorities have been struggling for weeks to cope with mounting social tension. The US president's statement, therefore, not only comments on the internal situation in one of the key EU countries, but also brings migration policy back to the forefront of public discussion. ## Fact-Check & Sources - ["Франция горит!": Трамп отреагировал на масштабные протесты в республике](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/frantsiya-palae-tramp-vidreaguvav-masshtabni-1792328512.html) - Primary source: Trump's quote from Truth Social, protest chronology (09.17 — Saint-Exupéry lyceum; 10.17 — 550k participants, Limoges, ~400 detained). - ["Закройте границы": Трамп отреагировал на массовые протесты во Франции](https://korrespondent.net/world/4921166-zakroite-hranytsy-tramp-otreahyroval-na-massovye-protesty-vo-frantsyy) - Confirms the essence of the statement: the connection of the situation with migration and the call to strengthen border controls. ## FAQ ### What exactly did Trump urge to do? Close France's state borders and take the situation in the country under control "before it's too late". ### Who does Trump consider the cause of the unrest? Migrants, whom he accuses of having "destroyed a once-great country". ### When and how did the protests in France begin? On September 17 with a teachers' strike at the Saint-Exupéry lyceum in a Paris suburb; the next day the protest escalated into the erection of barricades. ### What was the scale of the October 17 rallies? According to RBC-Ukraine, at least 550,000 participants; in Limoges, the 19th-century town hall building burned down, and about 400 people were detained.