Macron rebukes Trump as AI-fueled falsehoods swirl around French riots
Why it matters: France's unrest is spilling into US politics and adding to pressure as French bond yields hit a 24-year high.
French President Emmanuel Macron pushed back at Donald Trump and other foreign figures he said exploited France's unrest with false claims, including AI-generated imagery and narratives blaming migrants and Islamists. Speaking in Qatar, Macron said comments by foreign leaders were "unacceptable" and "stupid" after protests over living costs and public services escalated into rioting and looting in Paris and other cities last weekend. Trump had urged France to close its borders and blamed "migrants, jihadists, and Communists." The clash comes as tensions stay high ahead of more rallies this weekend and as France faces mounting fiscal strain, with its 10-year bond yield topping 5.1%, a fresh 24-year high.