Trump Urges France to Close Borders Amid Migration Row
President Donald Trump has claimed that migrants have taken over France and urged the country to close its borders, reigniting debate over immigration, public safety and political unrest.
JUST NOW: President Trump says that “the migrants have taken over France” and urged the country to “CLOSE THE BORDERS, FAST!” 🇫🇷 🇺🇸 Trump has been warning about France for thirteen days and every time he posts the situation gets worse, not better — which is the definition of a leader who sees what is coming before the people managing the crisis do. On October 6 he said it was about mass migration, not schools. On October 17 he said France was burning. In between those posts, France went from student blockades to 2,400 arrests in a single weekend, a 19th-century city hall burned to the ground, the interior minister tried to resign, and the prime minister had to announce curfews for the first time since the 2005 riots. France lost control of its borders, lost control of its cities, and is now watching its own interior minister admit that authorities “lost control” of the streets.
— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) October 19, 2026
Trump’s Remarks on France
US President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of France’s immigration policies, claiming that migrants have “taken over France” and calling on the country to “CLOSE THE BORDERS, FAST!”
.@POTUS: "The France thing is a very sad situation... What's happening in France has to do with immigration — not schools, not anything — it's immigration. I told President Macron, 'Close up your borders!'" https://t.co/fYfyxcAaky
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 19, 2026
Trump’s remarks have drawn attention to the wider debate over migration, border security and the French government’s response to public disorder. His statements also reflect his broader position that stricter immigration controls are necessary to address security concerns.
Claims of Unrest and Security Challenges
The claims accompanying Trump’s remarks describe a series of incidents involving student blockades, arrests, alleged damage to public buildings and discussions about curfews. They also allege that French officials have faced mounting pressure over their handling of public order.
Immigration Debate in Focus
The comments have once again placed immigration and border management at the centre of political debate.
The developments highlight the continuing political divide over immigration, public safety and the responsibilities of national governments in managing their borders.