Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s response to ongoing riots Monday, saying a leader should stay home “when your country’s on fire.”
Appearing on “Special Report,” Hume drew a sharp distinction between the unrest and the school protests that preceded it.
“This isn’t a student protest. This is a riot and an absolute orgy of destruction, and it is outrageous, I think, to most people,” he said.
Hume said the curfew measures were overdue before taking aim at Macron’s travel to the Middle East.
“Now look, what’s going on in the Middle East is very important. But when your country’s on fire, you don’t leave,” he said. “So he’s kind of an example of what not to do.”
Asked whether the violence could influence American voters ahead of the midterms, Hume said similar scenes in the United States could change the political atmosphere.
“But if it doesn’t spread here, and we don’t begin to see this here, I’m not sure how much of an effect it will have on this election,” he said.
President Donald Trump pointed to the ongoing riots in France during his Wichita, Kansas, rally Monday, warning supporters that the destruction should serve as a wake-up call ahead of the midterm elections.
“If you want to see what is at stake in this election, just look at what’s happening in France,” Trump said.
The president blamed migrants, jihadists and communists for the violence, accusing European left-wing leaders of pursuing immigration policies that undermined their countries.
“We’re not going to let that happen to this country,” he said.
Trump said he had warned French President Emmanuel Macron years ago to tighten border controls.
“Close your border or you will lose France,” Trump recalled telling him.
He urged European countries to close their borders and remove people who hate their adopted countries, while arguing that his administration’s immigration crackdown had protected the United States.
“They’re losing their country, they’re losing Europe,” Trump said. “That’s never happening to the United States of America.”
Trump closed the remarks by accusing Democrats of seeking a similar future for Americans.
“When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember that is what the radical Democrats wanna do to America,” he said.
The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating smashed windows at a Manhattan Capital One bank as violent unrest involving radical groups continues to grip France.
Police confirmed to Fox News Digital that officers responding to a criminal mischief call found broken windows at the building. No injuries were reported, and there were no arrests or identified suspects. Video shows multiple windows smashed at the Capital One bank on East 86th Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
A social media post sharing the video claimed the vandalism was connected to Palestine Action, though Fox News Digital has not independently verified that claim. The NYPD has not identified any suspects, established a motive or confirmed any connection to the group.
The incident comes as radical activist groups face increased scrutiny amid widespread unrest in France, where demonstrations have been accompanied by rioting, looting, arson and clashes with police.
Fox News Digital senior editor Asra Nomani said Monday that she identified 54 organizations in the broader French protest network by examining signs, flags and social media posts. Sixteen were student or youth organizations, while 38 were adult-led groups.
“They are a far-left network of communists and socialists working together with Islamists,” Nomani said during an appearance on “America Reports,” describing what she calls a “Red Green Alliance.” Nomani argued that the infrastructure behind some of the activism extends beyond France and has international ties.
“That’s why I call it Chaos Inc. Because it is a business, and it’s a multi-billion dollar business,” she said.
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson also pointed to the unrest in France as a warning for the United States.
“We cannot underestimate well-funded movements promoting an ideology fundamentally opposed to individual liberty,” Carson wrote. “Make no mistake: America is not immune.”
Separately, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Palestine Action on Aug. 26 as part of a crackdown on violent far-left networks. Treasury accused the British group of supporting attacks that injured police officers and caused millions of dollars in damage to military equipment, as well as encouraging similar tactics internationally, including in the United States.
“Political terrorism has no place in our society,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in announcing the sanctions.
Authorities have not said whether the Manhattan vandalism has any connection to the unrest in France or to any organized activist network.
{{#rendered}}Organized activist networks linked to French protests have a global reach, with Americans facing similar threats, Fox News Digital senior editor Asra Nomani warned Monday.
Appearing on “America Reports,” Nomani said she identified 54 organizations in the French protest network by examining signs, flags and social media posts. Just 16 were student or youth groups, while 38 were adult-led organizations.
“They are a far-left network of communists and socialists working together with Islamists,” she said, describing what she calls a “Red Green Alliance.”
Nomani argued that the groups have an established infrastructure extending beyond France.
“That’s why I call it Chaos Inc. Because it is a business, and it’s a multi-billion dollar business,” she said.
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson pointed to the unrest in France as a warning for Americans.
“We cannot underestimate well-funded movements promoting an ideology fundamentally opposed to individual liberty,” Carson wrote. “Make no mistake: America is not immune.”
The Department of Homeland Security issued a stark immigration warning Monday as France grappled with violent unrest.
“Every nation that loses control of its borders eventually pays the price,” DHS wrote on X.
The department credited President Donald Trump with its commitment to enforcing immigration laws and “safeguarding our national sovereignty.”
“Reject the third world. Export the third world,” the post continued.
DHS also shared a White House image declaring, “If you import the third world, you become the third world.”
Vice President JD Vance urged France to “stop this madness” as he shared a post reporting that the spire of Limoges’ historic town hall had collapsed during riots.
“I pray that France, a beautiful country of amazing people, will stop this madness before more of its landmarks burn,” Vance wrote on X.
He also issued a political warning at home.
“And I hope Americans are paying attention. This is the future congressional Democrats seek for your country,” he wrote.
Vance also blamed Western liberals’ immigration policies for the unrest.
“They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility,” he wrote. “They were told it would lead to this and they didn’t listen.”
{{#rendered}}French President Emmanuel Macron should resign over his handling of violent unrest sweeping France , former Margaret Thatcher adviser Nile Gardiner said Monday on “The Faulkner Focus.”
“He’s missing in action,” Gardiner said. “France needs real leadership.”
Reporting from Paris, Fox News correspondent Greg Palkot said approximately 2,400 people had been arrested, 1,500 shops damaged or looted and 1,000 police officers injured across France.
Macron warned Sunday that those responsible would face consequences.
“Those who have destroyed must pay, those who have looted must reimburse, those who have sought to bring down the republic will have to answer for it,” he said.
Gardiner called for troops to protect residents and businesses, declaring Macron “an absolute disaster.”
The U.S. Embassy in Paris warned Americans Monday to steer clear of demonstrations as French cities face reported curfews following protests that turned violent over the weekend.
In an Oct. 19 security alert, the embassy cited media reports that the prime minister’s office introduced partial curfews for Monday and Tuesday in several cities, including Lille.
Additional curfews could follow in parts of Paris and elsewhere across France, the alert said, warning that scattered protests could continue after Saturday’s violence.
Americans were urged to avoid demonstration areas and exercise caution if they unexpectedly encounter large gatherings.
The embassy also advised travelers to check Paris transit operator RATP for Metro station closures and other disruptions, verify flight schedules with their carriers and monitor local updates for curfews in their area.
Travelers should plan alternate routes and allow extra time to reach their destinations, the alert said.
More than 2,513 people have been taken into custody in France since the weekend, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Darmanin added that 67 people have already been jailed and "dozens" of criminal cases have been opened.
In an effort to identify those responsible for the violence, Darmanin said authorities plan to deploy facial recognition technology across social media platforms.
The economic fallout from the unrest is extensive, with at least 3,000 shops damaged and total costs estimated at hundreds of millions of euros.
In response to the widespread property destruction, France's digital minister, Anne Le Hénanff, urged online resale platforms on Monday to immediately remove listings for "stolen items" following Saturday's looting.
Le Hénanff has summoned representatives from major resale platforms, including Vinted and eBay, to address the illegal sale of looted goods.
Following the weekend's unrest, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez also offered his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who declined to accept it, AFP reported.
{{#rendered}}As images of burning cars and historic buildings in France and Italy ricochet across Europe, leaders in Hungary and Poland are seizing the moment, not to address the unrest, but to redefine the migration debate.
Both Hungary and Poland have laid down markers on allowing migrants into their nations. Even to the point of being fined and sanctioned by the European Union courts for refusing to open their gates to unchecked immigration, in Hungary’s case under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, while Poland faced sanctions in 2025.
Eurostat’s latest available figures show that in 2025 France had almost 10 million and Italy about 7 million foreign-born residents.
Poland had roughly 1 million foreign-born residents, while Hungary had less than 700,000, with most born in other EU countries and in Poland’s case about half came from Ukraine. Reacting to the violence, Hungary’s Prime Minister Péter Magyar posted on X that, "Europe can count on Hungary."
He stated that, "In the face of this senseless destruction and unjustified violence, perhaps it is now clear to everyone why Hungary advocates the strictest possible approach to migration, and why we will not weaken our border protection or immigration policy under any pressure."
This is an excerpt from a report by Fox News Digital's Tyler Speicher.
President Donald Trump said Monday that immigration has destroyed France, warning that the country faces a difficult road to recovery after allowing people across its borders who "don't love their country."
"You know, the France thing. It's a very sad situation. What's happening in France," Trump told reporters.
"Because what's happening in France has to do with immigration. Not schools, not anything. It's immigration."
Trump also said he had warned French President Emmanuel Macron during his first term that failing to secure the country's borders would lead to trouble.
"And I told President Macron, closed up your borders. I told them the first time I met him, which was years ago in my first term, closed up your borders."
"You're going to have nothing but trouble. And they've got a lot of trouble."
"They let people into their country that don't love their country. They don't love their buildings. They don't love their art."
"And I said the first time I met Macron, I said, you got to close up your your borders. You're going to ruin your country. And they've ruined their country."
"It's going to be hard to get it back. But hopefully France will come back," Trump added.
President Donald Trump said Monday that Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon while accusing French President Emmanuel Macron of making a mistake by allowing migrants into France and failing to secure the country's borders.
Asked about Macron reportedly blaming the war in Iran on Trump and linking the conflict to riots in France, the president pushed back.
"I don't think he is now," Trump responded.
"I think that's the fake news."
"He's a friend of mine," Trump said of Macron.
"I told him a long time ago. ‘You make it a big mistake in France. You're letting everybody from the world come in. The whole world was coming in.’
"And, you know, as you know, Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon. And that wasn't the deal. That wasn't the deal.
"I told Emmanuel, you should close up your borders. And let's see, I've known him for probably 8 or 9 years.
"I told him as soon as I met him. I said, you make it a big mistake.
"We closed our borders. His borders are a problem," Trump added.
{{#rendered}}U.S. lawmakers are growing concerned with ongoing violence gripping the small NATO nation of Albania as police clashed with protesters in the capital Tirana.
The violence continued for a sixth straight day on Sunday as the lawmakers issued warnings on social media to Albanian authorities.
"The Albanian people deserve freedom, rule of law, and institutional accountability. The government must refrain from all violence against protestors. Young people deserve a voice in the future of their country," Republican South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson posted on X.
Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., posted on X that: "All parties must reject violence, and the government must respect the rights of peaceful protesters. Albania’s young people deserve a voice in shaping their nation’s future."
Aderholt and Wilson were joined by Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, who stated on X: "The protests in Albania are a culmination of the people’s distrust of corrupt politicians and fatigue over the total disregard for the rule of law."
Police said 388 people had been charged with criminal offenses during the demonstrations, and an unspecified number of protesters and police have been injured, according to Reuters.
The U.S. Embassy in Albania called on all demonstrators to exercise their right to protest peacefully with no violent rioting, urging restraint and calm on all sides.
This is an excerpt from a report by Fox News Digital's Chris Massaro.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to approve an emergency decree Tuesday aimed at cracking down on unrest following two days of violent riots across northern Italy.
The unrest followed protests in France, where demonstrators clashed with police amid anger over rising living costs and deteriorating public services.
According to Sky News, Meloni’s decision follows an emergency security meeting convened after violent clashes in Milan and several other northern cities over the weekend, where protesters clashed with police, looted shops and threw stones, prompting authorities to deploy tear gas and water cannons.
The proposed decree is expected to include expanded preventive detention powers involving minors, measures targeting youth crime rings and "deferred arrest" powers allowing police to detain suspects after incidents of group looting.
The Italian government has also authorized the immediate deployment of additional military personnel to bolster security in Milan, according to the report.
France is facing growing pressure over its finances as protests over the cost of living and public services collide with the government’s effort to pass a budget and control spending.
Hundreds of thousands of people marched across the country over the weekend. Many protested peacefully, while some groups clashed with police, looted businesses and set fires.
The protests stem from frustration over living costs and declining public services.
Rising bond yields reflect separate concerns about France’s finances, and the unrest could make it harder for the government to rein in spending while responding to demands for more help and better services.
France’s borrowing costs have also climbed sharply.
Monthly data show the yield on its 10-year government bonds rose from near zero in 2021 to nearly 5% in 2026. That yield is the interest rate France pays to borrow, so a higher rate can make new loans and replacing maturing debt more expensive.
{{#rendered}}
Ariel Weil, mayor of Paris Centre, suggested Monday that France deploy its military to quell protests.
Speaking to French news network BFM TV, Weil said that "if we're caught off guard, it's better to have a curfew or the army" in certain Paris neighborhoods.
“It’s not ideal, but once we’re overwhelmed, we don’t have the staff and I can understand that, we have to give ourselves the means to prevent looting,” Weil added.
Fox News' Greg Palkot reports on left-wing riots and looting in France as the crisis escalates.
French cities face escalating chaos on widespread riots, looting and arson attacks.
French President Emmanuel Macron warns that lawbreakers will face consequences.
French authorities imposed an overnight curfew in Lille and several other northern cities Monday following a weekend of riots and looting.
The curfew began at 6 p.m. GMT on Monday and will remain in effect until 4 a.m. GMT Tuesday, according to a source in Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s office.
The order also covers Douai, Wattignies and Denain.
It comes as officials expand localized restrictions across France in an effort to prevent further violence, vandalism and looting.
Reuters contributed to this report.
{{#rendered}}Electric bikes became a prominent feature of the violence in Paris as protests over rising living costs and underfunded public services escalated into riots and looting.
Shared-mobility operator Dott told Reuters that about 300 of its 6,000 electric bikes in Paris were destroyed and another 120 severely damaged during Saturday’s unrest.
The company estimated its losses at roughly $450,000.
Dott also reported that 80 vehicles were destroyed in Bordeaux and another 30 to 40 scooters were damaged in Lyon.
Lime said about 6% of its Paris fleet of shared bikes and scooters was destroyed or damaged. Velib, which operates docked bicycles, reported that roughly 5% of its 18,000 e-bikes were damaged or destroyed.
E-bikes were reportedly used to build barricades and, in some cases, thrown onto burning vehicles. Their lithium-ion batteries can produce intense flames and toxic smoke when ignited.
There was no indication that the companies were specifically targeted. Reuters reported that the large number of bikes parked throughout Paris made them readily accessible during the unrest.
Reuters contributed to this report.
The NFL’s first regular-season game in Paris remains scheduled for next Sunday despite ongoing civil unrest in the French capital, the league said Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints are set to play at Stade de France, with additional events planned for fans throughout the week.
“Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,” the NFL wrote in a statement. “We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters.”
The league said it was providing both teams with regular updates and that no NFL sites had experienced disruptions.
Rioting and looting have occurred during nationwide protests over rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.
The Saints were scheduled to arrive in Paris early Monday, while the Steelers were expected to travel later in the week. The NFL said it would continue monitoring conditions with local authorities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former Margaret Thatcher advisor Nile Gardiner joined "The Faulkner Focus" to analyze chaos unraveling in France.
There have been over 2,000 arrests and reported army rioters, and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a warning to those seeking to bring down the republic.
{{#rendered}}France’s Interior Ministry said 550,000 people participated in 110 marches across the country Saturday as riots, looting and clashes damaged businesses and public buildings.
Organizers estimated the turnout at 800,000.
At least 2,400 people have been arrested, while nearly 1,000 law enforcement officers and firefighters were injured, according to government figures.
Authorities estimate that at least 3,000 businesses sustained damage. The BBC reported that more than 1,500 stores were ransacked or destroyed.
The violence included cars set on fire, shops looted and multiple high schools torched.
In Limoges, rioters broke into and set fire to a historic 19th-century city hall , causing its roof to collapse. Other municipal buildings, tourist offices and symbols of the French Republic were also vandalized.
Paris, Lyon and Marseille were among the cities hit by fires and clashes.
The government has authorized localized curfews as officials seek to restore order and prevent further looting.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation Sunday, saying he was responsible for the security failures.
“I submitted my resignation because I am responsible for everything that is happening,” Nuñez said. “We obviously need to be better at anticipating the kind of mobilization that is unfolding.”
President Emmanuel Macron rejected the resignation Monday and instructed Nuñez to ensure transparency about “the failures in planning and intelligence-gathering” that preceded the violence.
Nuñez also acknowledged that authorities “lost control” in some major cities.
“You can’t look shopkeepers in the eye when hundreds of businesses have been looted and say we haven’t lost control in some of these major cities,” he said.
French authorities imposed an overnight curfew in parts of Paris as officials worked to contain continuing unrest.
The curfew will run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Paris time around Place de la République and streets near Les Halles, according to local media cited by BFMTV.
The restricted areas have been affected by protests, clashes and vandalism during a broader wave of violence across France. Authorities have also reported arrests in Paris as officials seek to prevent further looting and property damage.
A Paris grocery store worker confronted a crowd outside his damaged business as riots, looting and vandalism spread across France.
Video filmed Sunday and obtained by Reuters showed rubbish scattered across the pavement, overturned bins and shutters partially covering the store’s damaged doors and windows.
“It’s a shame! Damn, it’s a shame! It’s not possible,” the video shows the worker telling people gathered around him, as translated from French. “There is art and manners to make demands, make demands with class, but not like this, damn it!
"What did we do to you? We’re family men. It’s our damn grocery store, how are we going to survive now?”
The worker said he was struggling to deal with insurance claims after the damage.
“Is it to me that you’re bringing your demands?” he asked the crowd.
{{#rendered}}The violent riots rocking France are a dark harbinger of what could happen in the United States if Democrats win the midterms, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is warning.
The top leader in the House compared the left-wing groups plunging France into chaos to the socialist insurgency that's gripped the Democratic Party.
And the coming election, Johnson argued, is the best way to prevent the same scenes from playing out in the U.S.
"France is descending into chaos because they wanted OPEN BORDERS — just like the socialist Democrats in America," Johnson posted on X. "What we are witnessing is a chilling warning for all Americans of what happens if the radical Marxist insurgent left gets their way."
This is an excerpt from Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind report.
Fox News contributor Ben Domenech reacts to Vice President JD Vance’s warning about the unrest in France and argues the U.S. should reject similar immigration policies.
Protests over rising living costs and declining public services turned violent across France over the weekend, as more than 500,000 people took to the streets.
Violent clashes broke out Saturday during nationwide demonstrations over rising living costs and poor school conditions.
Hundreds of thousands marched across the country, while masked groups fought with police, looted businesses and set fires in several cities. Police reported 1,800 arrests nationwide, including 855 in the Paris region.
This is an excerpt from Fox News Digital's Amanda Macias' report.
{{#rendered}}The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed Monday as unrest continued from a violent weekend of demonstrations.
“Due to student strikes the museum is currently closed,” the Louvre announced in a post on X, apologizing to visitors for the disruption.
The closure came as France faced a weekend of riots, looting and anti-government demonstrations.
French officials said student gatherings and blockades were continuing at locations including the Louvre and Sciences Po university.
The unrest has prompted calls for localized curfews, while unions have announced additional strikes and rallies for Nov. 5. French authorities have advised travelers to avoid large crowds and exercise caution.
President Donald Trump is calling out open border policies as looting and protests leave nearly 1,000 French police officers injured and about 2,400 people arrested.
“The migrants have taken over France,” Trump wrote Monday in a Truth Social post. “They must CLOSE THE BORDERS, FAST!”
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said local authorities should impose targeted curfews to restore order but ruled out a blanket curfew in Paris.
“My determination to restore order is absolute,” Lecornu said, while blaming "ultra-left radical groups" for seeking to create “profound unrest” ahead of France’s presidential election.
Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon challenged Lecornu to provide evidence, saying the prime minister should “apologize, keep quiet and stop fanning the flames of unrest.”
The unrest followed weeks of student demonstrations over declining public services, cost-of-living pressures and France’s weak economy.
The Federation of Trade and Retail said nearly 3,000 stores were affected, while officials reported widespread vandalism and looting in Paris, Marseille and other cities.
President Emmanuel Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s offer to resign but cited “intelligence and foresight failings” within the government.
France deployed about 60,000 police and other security forces during Saturday’s unrest. Marseille banned demonstrations, unions called for nationwide strikes Nov. 5, and European governments advised travelers to avoid large crowds and exercise caution in France.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Coverage for this event has ended.