Vice President JD Vance blamed nationwide riots in France on mass immigration and failures to assimilate large populations from the “third world.” He also warned Americans against allowing their country to follow the same destructive course.

Pandemonium erupted across French cities on Saturday as a weeks-long multicultural youth revolt merged with far left activists supposedly protesting the cost of living. The turmoil brought clashes with police, mass looting, vandalism, and arson attacks against government buildings.

One fire destroyed the tower of the historic City Hall in Limoges. The destruction became part of violent scenes that spread through numerous French cities.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said Sunday morning that authorities arrested more than 2,000 people during the riots. More than 600 police officers, gendarmes, and firefighters were injured.

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“Outrages were committed by several thousand far-left individuals determined to target our public buildings and confront our law enforcement forces. Later, they were joined by delinquents who looted and ransacked numerous businesses in several cities across France: Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Nice, Limoges, … and many others,” Nuñez said.

The Macron government has focused on the role of the far-left La France Insoumise party and presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon in stoking the riots. Others have pointed to mass migration policies pursued by establishment parties in Paris for decades.

Those policies led to ethnic enclaves in suburbs including Saint-Denis, where resentment has developed among some second- and third-generation migrants. Vance placed the violence within that wider argument over migration, assimilation, and compatibility.

“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,” Vance said.

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He continued, “They were told it would lead to this and they didn’t listen.”

Vance then directed his warning toward both France and the United States. “I pray that France, a beautiful country of amazing people, will stop this madness before more of its landmarks burn. And I hope Americans are paying attention. This is the future congressional Democrats seek for your country.”

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. They were told it would lead to this and they didn't listen.

I pray that France, a beautiful country of amazing people, will stop this madness before more of its landmarks burn. And I hope Americans are paying attention. This is the future congressional Democrats seek for your country. — JD Vance (@JDVance) October 18, 2026

The sentiment was also voiced by figures in France, including Mayor of Nice Éric Ciotti. He pointed to Palestinian flags, community slogans, and movements he described as close to the Muslim Brotherhood.

“Islamo-leftism threatens the Republic. The massive presence of Palestinian flags and community slogans is a terrible reality in these demonstrations, just like the presence of movements close to the Muslim Brotherhood,” Ciotti said.

“Alongside the black blocs, they seek to overthrow the Republic.”

National Rally President Jordan Bardella described the protests as a pretext for the “convergence of an ultra-left terrorism and delinquent populations from the suburbs.” He added, “These scenes of devastation, which illustrate the ‘New France’ that irresponsible individuals seek to unite, will never be acceptable.”

Bardella is currently the favorite to become the next prime minister should Marine Le Pen win next year’s presidential election to replace Emmanuel Macron. He vowed to “restore order” in France.

“From May 2027, if the silent majority of the French so decides, we will durably restore order: family allowances for recidivist delinquents will be suspended, the principle of rioter-pays will be applied to fully reimburse the amount of damages, any individual who attacks law enforcement will be brought before the courts for immediate trial and a heavy sentence, law enforcement will be supported, and their ranks strengthened,” Bardella pledged.

He added, “Calm, respect for property and persons, civil peace must once again become the normal state of the country.”

Widespread looting, often committed by hooded youths, accompanied the destruction. French Federation of Commerce and Distribution President Alexandre Bompard estimated that looters directly affected approximately 1,500 retailers, with total business costs likely reaching “several hundred million euros”.

Alain Di Crescenzo, head of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry network, warned that the looting “could be the final straw” for many small businesses.

“Our shopkeepers don’t need this. They fight every day to keep our cities alive, and they are the ones the rioters targeted…” Di Crescenzo said.

“This is unacceptable.”

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