Trump Uses France Unrest to Warn U.S. Voters

President Donald Trump used unrest in France to urge voters to support Republicans, blaming migrants, jihadists and communists for the violence and warning that similar scenes could occur in the United States if Democrats prevailed in the November 3 midterm elections. The reports say he offered no evidence that those groups were collectively responsible for the unrest. Trump made the remarks at a campaign rally in Kansas on October 19 and in posts on Truth Social. He described France as being conquered and looted, urged French leaders to close the country’s borders and linked images of fires there to his criticism of Democrats. He also said that France’s unrest showed what he believed could happen in the United States. The demonstrations in France had varied causes, including rising living costs, education concerns and public services. They began with student protests over school conditions and expanded to include workers, trade unions and others. Large numbers of people marched peacefully, while violent episodes in several cities involved looting, property damage and clashes with police. French police figures cited in reporting put participation in demonstrations across the...