US President Donald Trump has commented on the school protests in France. He said they are really about Islam taking over the country. He posted on Truth Social that the unrest is “out of control mass migration” and not about schools.
More than a quarter of a million people marched across France on Tuesday. It was the biggest day since the movement began in September. Students, teachers and parents are angry about poor school conditions, staff shortages and weak funding. The protests began in poorer suburbs around Paris and spread nationwide. This adds pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
Trump’s comments fit his usual criticism of migration in Europe. The timing matters in the US because midterm elections are next month. Republicans are pushing immigration as a campaign issue. Trump ally Glenn Beck said the “riots in France are a clear warning to the rest of the West”.
Most marches were peaceful. In Strasbourg, Lyon and Rennes, some protesters set fires and threw objects, and police used tear gas. Rights groups, student bodies and parents say police used too much force, especially against minors. The government says outside groups and violent elements have taken over parts of the movement.
The number of closed schools is disputed. The Union Syndicale Lyceenne says about 2,000 high schools shut. The education ministry says 891 schools had full or partial suspensions. Complaints include leaking roofs, damaged buildings, staff shortages and rat infestations.
