Macron slams ‘stupid comments’ by world leaders over France unrest

French President Emmanuel Macron has denounced statements made by US President Donald Trump and other global leaders suggesting that migrants are to blame for recent violence in France, Associated Press reported.

In Qatar on Wednesday, Macron said that the comments were “unacceptable” and “stupid” and warned misinformation was inflaming tensions.

Trump has alleged that Muslim migrants were to blame and called on France to seal its borders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that France was under threat from an “invasion of extremist Islam”.

The violence broke out as protests against spiralling living costs and other years-old frustrations mushroomed across the country, with some protests turning to looting and clashes.

Images purportedly generated by artificial intelligence had been shared online that falsely showed such incidents as the rape of a minor by a group of migrants in the country. Macron said such claims that France had been “invaded by hordes of migrants and Islamists”, were “completely false”.

When asked if he had been thinking of Trump, Macron responded: ‘Among others’.

French authorities have introduced security measures ahead of further demonstrations expected this weekend, seeking to prevent a repeat of the violence.

Macron spoke in the Gulf on a trip aimed at nailing down more supplies of energy as fuel prices in France continue to climb.