As France grapples with widespread protests and riots, Republicans in the United States are seizing on the unrest to paint Democrats as proponents of chaos, linking the violence to immigration and socialist policies. With the midterm elections just two weeks away, GOP leaders and conservative commentators are using the scenes from Paris and other French cities as a stark warning for American voters.
The demonstrations, which began as student protests over school conditions, have escalated into broader anger over the cost of living, culminating in some of the most severe rioting France has seen in years. Over the weekend, authorities reported around 2,400 arrests nationwide, and images of burning cars and looted storefronts have dominated international headlines.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) took to social media to claim that France's troubles stem from its open-border policies, which he likened to those advocated by "socialist Democrats" in the U.S. "France is descending into chaos because they wanted OPEN BORDERS — just like the socialist Democrats in America," Johnson wrote. "What we are witnessing is a chilling warning for all Americans of what happens if the radical Marxist insurgent left gets their way."
President Trump and Vice President Vance also weighed in, directly linking the French protests to immigration. Trump wrote on Truth Social that "The migrants have taken over France," and urged the country to "CLOSE THE BORDERS, FAST!" Vance, in a post over the weekend, argued that "Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion," and warned that this is "the future congressional Democrats seek for your country."
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) echoed those sentiments, attributing the unrest to "Suicidal Empathy" in the West and vowing to fight mass migration in America. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) went further, claiming that "Islamists right now burning Paris" are a result of Europe's "cultural suicide," and that the U.S. must take heed. Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, also suggested that the protesters are not native French, writing that "the people you are fecklessly asking to stop burning down your country hardly understand the language you speak."
Republicans are also using the French unrest to bolster their attacks on socialism, pointing to the influence of progressive Democrats in Congress. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) warned that "This is what happens when leaders lose the will to defend their country and the rule of law," and called for courage to resist "bad DSA ideas that are anti-police, anti-law enforcement, anti-capitalist, and anti-American."
Some conservative figures are alleging a coordinated left-wing conspiracy behind the protests. Andrew Kolvet of Turning Point USA referenced a Fox News Digital report that suggested 54 organizations, including labor unions and human rights groups, helped organize the protests. He also pointed to a planned demonstration across 12 countries on November 20, which he claims is "all funded and coordinated."
On the left, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) offered a different interpretation, suggesting that the protests reflect deep dissatisfaction with wealth inequality. "From the high schools of France to the streets of Madrid to the universities of Tirana, young people are rising up against a system that has failed them," he said.
The political exploitation of the French riots comes as Americans express pessimism about the country's direction, with recent polls showing a record number saying the U.S. is on the wrong track. The GOP's emphasis on immigration and socialism is a familiar playbook, but the visceral images from France provide a powerful backdrop. Whether this messaging resonates with voters remains to be seen, but the party is clearly betting that it will.
