US President Donald Trump on Monday blamed French President Emmanuel Macron’s immigration policies for the unrest in France, claiming the violence could have been avoided if Macron had followed his immigration advice.

“Paris is going to be a Muslim city very soon, and that wasn’t the deal,” Trump said, alleging that immigration had significantly changed the demographic composition of the French capital.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said he had warned Macron years ago against allowing large numbers of immigrants into France.

“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 said. “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. That wasn’t the deal.”

His remarks came as French authorities imposed localised curfews and restrictions on public gatherings in Paris, Lille, Nice and other cities following a weekend of riots, looting and clashes between protesters and police. The unrest has increased pressure on Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government over security failures and damage to businesses ahead of the next presidential election.

The French government opted for targeted restrictions instead of a blanket curfew across Paris. Lecornu said localised measures were more appropriate but did not rule out declaring a state of emergency.

“My determination to restore order is absolute,” Lecornu told reporters.

France’s Interior Ministry reported around 2,400 arrests and nearly 1,000 police officers injured during the unrest. A protester also died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The Federation of Trade and Retail said the violence had affected nearly 3,000 shops. The organisation called for government support for businesses damaged during the riots.

Macron condemned the vandalism in a televised address, expressing outrage and shame over the scenes across France.

“Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it,” Macron said, questioning why French citizens would destroy property in their own country.

He acknowledged that peaceful demonstrators had legitimate concerns but stressed that their grievances must remain separate from acts of violence and vandalism.

Macron stopped short of declaring a state of emergency. However, he said local authorities would have the power to ban demonstrations when necessary to protect public buildings and commercial establishments.

The government continues to face pressure to restore order and protect businesses as restrictions remain in force in affected areas.