As the United States approaches the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, Donald Trump and Republican figures have repeatedly weaponized street protests and civil unrest in France to target Democratic opponents. The political utilization of French demonstrations has become a recurring subject for Donald Trump since October 17, with Fox News abundantly relaying the parades on its airwaves.
Facing a historically low disapproval rating around 30% and trailing in polls against Democratic rivals, Donald Trump and other MAGA figures have amplified xenophobic comments about the violence in France. Vice-president J.D. Vance claimed that Les progressistes occidentaux ont importé le tiers-monde en France
as cited in reports, while Republican candidates and officials have integrated these overseas scenes into domestic campaign tools. Scott Perry, a congressman and candidate for reelection in Pennsylvania, produced a television spot featuring burning scenes in France with a voiceover warning that America will never become socialist. In North Carolina, Republican party chairman Jason Simmons stated that La situation en France devrait servir de signal d’alarme pour tous les Américains
during a visit by Donald Trump to support candidate Michael Whatley against Democrat Roy Cooper.
French Authorities Push Back Against Washington Discourse
The alarmist discourse from Washington has drawn direct pushback from French authorities. The X account French Response, launched in September 2025 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to counter disinformation, answered US politicians including Ted Cruz—who claimed Europe committed cultural suicide—by stating Un débat américain. Pas besoin de sous-traiter le décor à la France
. When the White House posted a video montage pairing a Donald Trump speech with mobilization footage and asked citizens to consider what future they want for America, French Response replied by sharing an image of a children’s book titled The worry monster dedicated to easing anxiety.
Emmanuel Macron responded during a trip to Qatar, exclaiming: Ils font campagne sur notre dos ! On a des gens qui ont expliqué qu’on avait été envahis par des hordes de migrants et d’islamistes, ce qui est totalement faux
.
Republicans Use Fear to Mobilize Voters
Republican strategists view fear as a primary motivator as the November 3 election date approaches. The strategy aims to mobilize supporters who voted in 2024 but might otherwise stay home. According to a Rasmussen poll, 66% of Democrats report being très enthousiastes
to vote, compared with only 51% of Republicans.
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US Donald Trump describes the situation in France as a “little revolution,” saying the French president faces bigger problems than drug prices and warning against similar unrest in the US. pic.twitter.com/K6rbA6YaNN
US Donald Trump says he told Emmanuel Macron “a long time ago” that he was making “a big mistake in France” by “letting everybody from the world come in” to his country.🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/V8uVRI4Qek pic.twitter.com/ADs1CIV4o8
