French President Macron issued a public statement on October 19, 2026 Beijing time, issuing a stern warning to looters over the recent unrest. Macron made it clear that the government would take tough measures to deal with looting, and stressed that such illegal acts would never be allowed to go unpunished, aiming to restore social order through strong law enforcement.
According to a statement by French President Macron posted by the Twitter account @clashreport, Macron publicly stated that those who took part in looting and vandalism must pay the price for their crimes, and that those who attacked government buildings must also bear legal responsibility for their crimes.
According to a report by Radio France Internationale, French President Macron publicly stated on October 19, 2026, that instigators from far-left fringe groups, in cahoots with criminals, are running rampant and committing violence in French cities, causing serious damage to public security and the rule of law.
French President Macron began a three-day visit to Gulf states on October 19, 2026, aiming to secure additional oil and diesel supplies for France. Domestic fuel prices in France continue to rise amid the US-Iran war and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Macron had already met with the Emir of Kuwait on Monday, and his itinerary will subsequently take him to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar.
French President Macron responded to earlier remarks by National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, who said she would cut financial aid to Ukraine if she came to power. Macron emphasized that France and EU member states support Ukraine out of consideration for their own security interests, and noted that the situation in Ukraine is directly related to European security and stability.
French President Macron made public remarks on the situation in Ukraine, stating that aiding Ukraine is not merely a matter of goodwill, but accords with Europe's own interests and concerns collective security. He stressed that surrender means weakness, and weakness will bring danger, adding that he firmly believes this is the best way to protect the French people.
On October 5, French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz sent a joint letter to European Commission President von der Leyen, proposing that the Commission be granted new trade countermeasure powers, allowing it to immediately cut off relevant third countries' access to the EU single market when necessary, and recommending the adoption of a reverse qualified majority mechanism. The document does not name China; according to AFP, the initiative was put forward amid escalating EU-China trade frictions, on the eve of the EU trade commissioner's talks in Beijing.
Large-scale protests broke out across France, with more than 500,000 people taking to the streets to condemn the rising cost of living and poor school conditions. During the protests, the Louvre was blockaded, a city hall building was set on fire, and shops were looted; the clashes led to more than 2,500 arrests.
Facing large-scale protests and violent clashes, French President Macron delivered a televised address calling for an end to violence, while Prime Minister Lecornu ordered curfews in some areas; Macron also stressed the need to determine whether there were law-enforcement failures and to review police tactics.
On September 29, French President Macron, while meeting with students in Madrid, Spain, said that subsidies received by Chinese companies reach 8 times the OECD average and are undermining Europe's industrial base, that Europe had been too naive in the past, and advocated using trade safeguard measures to maintain fair competition, while also affirming China's post-pandemic innovation achievements.
President Trump met with New York City Mayor Adams and French President Macron in New York.
Around September 20, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russia's hybrid warfare threat had escalated, calling for an immediate increase in vigilance and for plans to be drawn up to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive sites from drone and cyberattacks.
On July 17, 2026, French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz jointly announced that France and Germany would draw up a joint roadmap to address the widening trade deficit with China and the industrial impact, showing that Europe's economic and trade defensive policies toward China are converging further.