US led G7 in firearm-death rate as France responds to ICE meme on riots with savage control jab
French account answers criticism
The French foreign ministry responded on Thursday to US criticism of riots in France. Its French Response page posted figures comparing firearm deaths per 100,000 people in G7 countries. More than 44,000 people in the United States died from gun-related injuries in 2024, including homicides and suicides, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Trump and Vance blame immigration
The social media exchange came after Trump and the Kremlin blamed France’s unrest on “mass immigration.” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday that people “from an entirely different world” had “shattered that once great country” of France. He urged the country to “Close your Borders and take control, before it is too late!” Vice President JD Vance also attributed the unrest to “third world” immigration and a failure to assimilate, while warning US voters about a similar outcome if they supported Democrats in the November midterms. Trump had earlier claimed, without evidence, that migrants were fuelling the riots.
Macron condemns foreign comments
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned comments about the protests this week, calling them “as unacceptable as they are stupid”. He said they came from “many people including foreign leaders”. Asked whether he meant Trump, Macron replied: “Among others.” He added that those speaking badly of France “don’t love our country” and said they “really bother me.”
Protests spread across France
France has experienced some of its worst urban unrest in years. Protests began last month amid student frustration over classroom conditions and teacher shortages. The demonstrations have since gained national momentum, with many hundreds of thousands protesting over the cost of living and declining public services.
Key points
- France’s foreign ministry used G7 firearm-death figures to answer US criticism of the riots.
- The comparison listed 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people in the United States and 0.3 in France.
- Trump and Vance blamed the unrest on immigration, while Macron condemned comments by foreign leaders.
- Protests grew from concerns about schools to wider complaints about living costs and public services.