President Donald Trump said Monday outside the White House that France's unrest "has to do with immigration, not schools, not anything." He said he told President Emmanuel Macron the first time they met, during his first term, to "close up your borders" or face nothing but trouble. Trump accused France of letting in people who "don't love their country" or its buildings and art. He called Macron a friend but said he made a mistake by allowing people from around the world to enter.

Trump then widened his warning to the whole continent, saying that if Europe does not close its borders and remove criminals, "Europe is finished." He cited unrest in France, Italy and other European countries, though the reports I found only quote him on that and do not independently confirm riots spreading. Macron has reportedly pointed to different causes, including energy strains and fallout from US policy and the war in Iran, and Trump pushed back when asked about it. The French protests themselves began over rising living costs, education funding and strained public services. Trump's comments are broad political claims rather than established findings, and the cause of the unrest is still being argued over.