Vance blames immigration for violence at French protests
The US Vice President shared video of Limoges town hall on fire. French officials have blamed rioters and the "ultra-left"; no French government response to Vance was reported as of 7am GMT.
US Vice President JD Vance blamed immigration for the violence that followed Saturday’s cost-of-living protests in France, in a post on X at 1:21am GMT on Sunday 18 October.
Quoting a video of the town hall in Limoges in flames, Vance wrote: “Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility.” He also told Americans that this was the future congressional Democrats wanted for the US, according to France 24.
Post by JD Vance on X, 18 October 2026, 1:21am GMT
French officials have blamed others for the violence. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the marches were hijacked by “opportunistic delinquents”, and the Paris police prefecture blamed the “ultra-left”. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called on the left-wing La France Insoumise to “choose its side”; its leader, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, said his supporters had nothing to do with looting.
The Interior Ministry put Saturday’s turnout at 550,000; organisers said 800,000.
The reports reviewed for this story did not include a French government response to Vance’s post as of 7am GMT.
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