French President knocks Trump’s “stupid comments”

French President Emmanuel Macron has accused Donald Trump and other foreign leaders of making “stupid comments” about France’s street unrest for political gain, as the country prepared for more protests this weekend.

Speaking during a visit to Qatar, the French president did not name names but said “manipulation of information” after Saturday’s riots had led to “comments that are as unacceptable as they are stupid, from many people, including foreign leaders”.

Asked if he was referring to Donald Trump, Macron replied: “Among others.” The US president has blamed France’s violence on “migrants, jihadists and communists” as he campaigns for his Republican party before midterm elections.

Macron told reporters in Doha that some leaders “in the middle of election campaigns, whether here in the region or on the other side of the Atlantic” were “naively spreading narratives that certain circles are clearly trying to promote”.