President Donald Trump said Monday that he warned French President Emmanuel Macron years ago that allowing large numbers of migrants into France would create serious problems, arguing that the unrest sweeping the country highlights the need for stronger border controls.

“He’s a friend of mine. I told him a long time ago, you’re making a big mistake in France. You’re letting everybody from the world come in,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “The whole world was coming in. And as you know, Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon, and that wasn’t the deal,” Trump added, recalling what he described as an earlier warning to Macron after Trump took office in 2017.

Trump also addressed the unrest in a Sunday post on Truth Social, declaring, “France is burning!” and urging the country to close its borders and regain control before the situation worsens.

The comments followed a weekend of protests and rioting across France that resulted in thousands of arrests, widespread looting, damage to public buildings and injuries to police officers. French authorities reported nearly 2,400 arrests and close to 1,000 injured officers, according to Reuters. In Limoges, a fire severely damaged city hall, while businesses were looted and clashes with police erupted in Paris, Marseille and other cities. Authorities introduced localized curfews and restrictions on public gatherings Monday as the government worked to restore order.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for partial curfews in affected areas rather than a nationwide restriction. Police restricted access to parts of Paris, including Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping district. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered to resign after acknowledging shortcomings in the security response. Macron rejected the offer and directed officials to examine possible failures in intelligence gathering and police preparation.

The demonstrations began with student protests over school conditions and concerns about public services before expanding into broader demonstrations over the cost of living and government policies. More than 500,000 people reportedly participated in demonstrations nationwide over the weekend. Many protests remained peaceful, but smaller groups engaged in violence, arson and property destruction. Macron condemned the violence and called for public order to be restored. Lecornu blamed far-left groups for exploiting the demonstrations, while opposition figures criticized the government’s handling of the crisis.

Vice President JD Vance also criticized Western immigration policies in a Sunday post on X, arguing that governments had failed to consider whether newcomers were being adequately assimilated into their host countries. “Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion,” Vance wrote. “They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility. They were told it would lead to this and they didn’t listen.” Vance shared footage of the fire at Limoges city hall and said he hoped France would stop the violence before additional landmarks were destroyed. He then connected the unrest to the American political debate ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. “I hope Americans are paying attention,” Vance wrote. “This is the future congressional Democrats seek for your country.”

Trump’s claim that Paris would soon become a Muslim city has drawn attention to France’s changing demographics. France does not collect official population statistics by religious affiliation in the same way some other countries do, making precise estimates difficult. Estimates place France’s Muslim population at approximately 6 million to 7 million, with a substantial share living in the greater Paris region. Those figures do not establish that Muslims will soon constitute a majority of Paris residents.

Trump has repeatedly argued that mass immigration and weak border enforcement threaten public safety and social stability. His administration has pursued stricter immigration enforcement in the United States while criticizing European governments over their migration policies. The unrest in France has intensified the debate over immigration, economic grievances, and government security measures.