Macron drew a line between "far-left fringe groups and delinquents" who looted stores and peaceful demonstrators, saying citizens "rightfully feel that fuel prices are going too high" because of the war in Iran. He called on political parties and unions to condemn the riots while urging the country not to minimize the hardships of young people expressing "great anguish and concern about the future."
The speech followed a second day of clashes and looting in Paris after Saturday's cost of living and education marches, which drew an estimated 550,000 protesters nationwide and resulted in more than 2,000 arrests and over 600 injured police officers, gendarmes and firefighters. Earlier on Sunday, US President Donald Trump blamed the unrest on "out of control mass migration" and urged France on Truth Social to "close your borders and take control, before it is too late!"