France is burning, Europe is protesting, and US President Donald Trump believes he has identified the culprit: immigration. But as French cities count the cost of widespread violence, an uncomfortable question is emerging. Is immigration responsible for the unrest, or has it become a convenient explanation for a much deeper crisis of governance, economic pressure and public frustration? The demonstrations began with students demanding improvements in education. Poor school facilities, teacher shortages and deteriorating conditions sparked protests that soon expanded into a nationwide movement over the cost of living, wages, inequality and public services. By the weekend, hundreds of thousands had taken to the streets. Most demonstrations were peaceful, but violence erupted in several cities. In Paris, Marseille, Lyon and elsewhere, rioters attacked police, vandalised businesses and set buildings ablaze. The historic city hall in Limoges was among the buildings damaged by fire. More than 1,800 arrests were reported, while hundreds of emergency personnel were injured. There can be no justification for arson, looting or assaults on police officers. The right to protest does not extend to destroying public institutions or terrorising communities. But condemning violence should not mean ignoring the grievances that brought people onto the streets. President Emmanuel Macron faces mounting questions over his government's response. On Monday, he rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's offer to resign, while demanding action to restore order and transparency over failures in security preparation and intelligence. The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon have also criticised the authorities, saying sections of their cities were left inadequately protected. For Macron, the unrest arrives at a particularly difficult moment. France is grappling with mounting debt, economic pressures, budget challenges and growing public dissatisfaction ahead of its next presidential election. Yet from Washington, Trump offered a very different diagnosis. In a post on Truth Social, the US president declared that France was burning, blamed people arriving from different cultural backgrounds and urged the country to close its borders. Vice President JD Vance advanced a similar argument, criticising Europe's approach to migration and integration. Immigration is a legitimate subject for public debate. Governments have a responsibility to manage borders, enforce the law and address integration challenges.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-rival-benny-gantz-quits-israel-election-race-vows-to-push-for-unity-government-1792424498362">Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz quits Israel election race, vows to push for unity government</a>&nbsp;But those responsibilities do not establish that immigrants caused France's present unrest. The protests emerged from documented complaints about schools, living costs and public services.&nbsp;Blaming an entire population for the violence without evidence risks replacing serious analysis with political scapegoating. There is another contradiction. The economic pressures troubling France are not confined to France. In Italy, protesters have rallied against rising fuel costs and government policies. In Portugal, housing affordability and living expenses have driven demonstrations. Belgium and Albania have also experienced protests linked to economic and governance concerns. These movements differ in their origins, demands and intensity. They should not be presented as one coordinated European uprising. Nevertheless, they expose a shared challenge confronting political leaders: the growing distance between what governments promise and what citizens experience. Across much of Europe, ordinary households are struggling with affordability, public services and uncertainty over their economic futures. The war in Iran and its effects on energy prices have added further pressure. In that environment, reducing every protest to immigration risks overlooking the very issues that elected governments are expected to address. It also raises a question for Washington. If Trump is genuinely concerned about France's stability, why not acknowledge the demands of French students, workers and families alongside the violence? Why is immigration presented as the explanation before responsibility for the riots has been established? Political leaders have every right to argue for tougher migration policies. But they also have an obligation to distinguish evidence from rhetoric. France must investigate the violence, prosecute those responsible and protect the right to peaceful protest. Macron's government must confront the public-service failures and economic grievances that helped fuel the demonstrations. And Europe's leaders must recognise that discontent over affordability and governance cannot be dismissed indefinitely. As for Trump, his diagnosis deserves the same scrutiny as any other political claim. France needs accountability. Europe needs answers. And Donald Trump needs evidence. Because blaming outsiders may be politically convenient. But it will not put out the fire.

France’s unrest has reignited the immigration debate, but the protests also highlight deeper concerns over economic pressures, public services and governance across Europe.

France is burning, Europe is protesting, and US President Donald Trump believes he has identified the culprit: immigration. But as French cities count the cost of widespread violence, an uncomfortable question is emerging. Is immigration responsible for the unrest, or has it become a convenient explanation for a much deeper crisis of governance, economic pressure and public frustration? The demonstrations began with students demanding improvements in education. Poor school facilities, teacher shortages and deteriorating conditions sparked protests that soon expanded into a nationwide movement over the cost of living, wages, inequality and public services. By the weekend, hundreds of thousands had taken to the streets. Most demonstrations were peaceful, but violence erupted in several cities. In Paris, Marseille, Lyon and elsewhere, rioters attacked police, vandalised businesses and set buildings ablaze. The historic city hall in Limoges was among the buildings damaged by fire. More than 1,800 arrests were reported, while hundreds of emergency personnel were injured. There can be no justification for arson, looting or assaults on police officers. The right to protest does not extend to destroying public institutions or terrorising communities. But condemning violence should not mean ignoring the grievances that brought people onto the streets. President Emmanuel Macron faces mounting questions over his government's response. On Monday, he rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's offer to resign, while demanding action to restore order and transparency over failures in security preparation and intelligence. The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon have also criticised the authorities, saying sections of their cities were left inadequately protected. For Macron, the unrest arrives at a particularly difficult moment. France is grappling with mounting debt, economic pressures, budget challenges and growing public dissatisfaction ahead of its next presidential election. Yet from Washington, Trump offered a very different diagnosis. In a post on Truth Social, the US president declared that France was burning, blamed people arriving from different cultural backgrounds and urged the country to close its borders. Vice President JD Vance advanced a similar argument, criticising Europe's approach to migration and integration. Immigration is a legitimate subject for public debate. Governments have a responsibility to manage borders, enforce the law and address integration challenges. Also Read: Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz quits Israel election race, vows to push for unity government But those responsibilities do not establish that immigrants caused France's present unrest. The protests emerged from documented complaints about schools, living costs and public services. Blaming an entire population for the violence without evidence risks replacing serious analysis with political scapegoating. There is another contradiction. The economic pressures troubling France are not confined to France. In Italy, protesters have rallied against rising fuel costs and government policies. In Portugal, housing affordability and living expenses have driven demonstrations. Belgium and Albania have also experienced protests linked to economic and governance concerns. These movements differ in their origins, demands and intensity. They should not be presented as one coordinated European uprising. Nevertheless, they expose a shared challenge confronting political leaders: the growing distance between what governments promise and what citizens experience. Across much of Europe, ordinary households are struggling with affordability, public services and uncertainty over their economic futures. The war in Iran and its effects on energy prices have added further pressure. In that environment, reducing every protest to immigration risks overlooking the very issues that elected governments are expected to address. It also raises a question for Washington. If Trump is genuinely concerned about France's stability, why not acknowledge the demands of French students, workers and families alongside the violence? Why is immigration presented as the explanation before responsibility for the riots has been established? Political leaders have every right to argue for tougher migration policies. But they also have an obligation to distinguish evidence from rhetoric. France must investigate the violence, prosecute those responsible and protect the right to peaceful protest. Macron's government must confront the public-service failures and economic grievances that helped fuel the demonstrations. And Europe's leaders must recognise that discontent over affordability and governance cannot be dismissed indefinitely. As for Trump, his diagnosis deserves the same scrutiny as any other political claim. France needs accountability. Europe needs answers. And Donald Trump needs evidence. Because blaming outsiders may be politically convenient. But it will not put out the fire.

France’s unrest has reignited the immigration debate, but the protests also highlight deeper concerns over economic pressures, public services and governance across Europe.

France is burning. Trump blames immigrants. But who is answering Europe's real questions? | The Verdict

As Minnesota’s anti-immigration drive and the resultant protests reached a violent crescendo earlier this month, US Border Patrols commander-at-large Gregory Bovino made an appearance wearing a long coat. The army-green greatcoat was eerily similar to the costumes of Hitler’s Nazi officers, particularly the leaders of the SS and the Gestapo, and a ubiquitous part of Nazi Germany iconography and historical imagery. Whether deliberate or unfortunately coincidental, his alleged ‘Nazi cosplay’ became a symbol of the conflict between Minnesotans and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents that Bovino led. Now, Bovino has been given the marching orders by US President Donald Trump to get out of Minnesota and is replacing him with his border czar Tom Homan. There are unconfirmed reports that he might also lose his ‘commander-at-large’ designation as he returns to his home base of California. Here is the story of how Bovino’s coat became part of the controversy:<h2>Symbolism is everything, sometimes: How Gregory Bovino’s sartorial choices became a hot topic</h2>Between two fatal shootings — of Renee Good and Alex Pretti — and amid the street fights between locals and ICE, Bovino appeared with a group of men. His dress was in sharp contrast to the others, who were sporting bomber jackets or tactical vests, covering their faces with balaclavas or neck gaiters. From their civilian appearance, some of them could have been plainclothes enforcement officers, right-wing anti-immigration supporters, or bystanders. Among them, Bovino’s clothing stood out.His greatcoat was described in a New York Times report as “the long, double-breasted army-green coat with wide lapels, big metallic buttons, epaulettes and insignia on the arms”. Bovino accessorised it with black leather shoes and gold-trimmed patches, in what an expert described as “a look intended to intimidate and provoke”. It was eye-catching and caused a social media maelstrom when videos and images of Bovino from the scene were shared online.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-greg-bovino-trump-s-controversial-immigration-officer-at-centre-of-chaos-after-alex-pretti-shooting-1769490753187/1769490753189">Who is Greg Bovino? Trump's controversial border patrol officer at centre of Alex Pretti shooting row — Has be been fired?</a><h2>ICE uniforms are already being compared to Nazis</h2>For context, the SS, or Schutzstaffel, was the elite ideological, paramilitary and security organisation of Nazi Germany, while the Gestapo was the plainclothes secret police force designed to hunt down Hitler’s opponents.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/far-right-activists-ousted-by-anti-ice-demonstrators-in-minneapolis-1768728054133/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/far-right-activists-ousted-by-anti-ice-demonstrators-in-minneapolis-1768728054133/embed</a>In the past few years, ICE officers’ clothing became a contentious symbol of enforcement, including the fact that many agents covered their identities with facemasks or scarves.Bovino's' greatcoat in Minneapolis was not the first time he wore it. In 2025, as Bovino led ICE operations in Los Angeles and Chicago, the Department of Homeland Security posted a video of him in action with the caption, “We Will Not Be Stopped”, set against the Coldplay song "Viva la Vida". The video also featured several photos of Bovino wearing the greatcoat. That was when he was compared online to the Gestapo or the SS chiefs.“If you think the calls of fascism and authoritarianism are hyperbole, pause and watch this video,” California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom posted on X while sharing the DHS video.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blinks-on-ice-crackdown-after-backlash-on-alex-pretti-killing-pulls-some-agents-from-minnesota-will-controversial-bovino-leave-1769471315493">Trump pulls some ICE agents from Minnesota after backlash on Alex Pretti killing — Will controversial Bovino leave?</a><h2>Bovino’s greatcoat: SS getup or standard uniform?</h2>As criticism mounted, the government stepped in to explain, with Tricia McLaughlin of the Homeland Security department saying Bovino’s coat was a “standard-issue Border Patrol winter dress uniform”. Bovino has worn it since 1999, wrote the assistant secretary for public affairs. “Manufacturing fake outrage and likening law enforcement to the Nazis or Gestapo is incredibly dangerous,” she added.McLaughlin's claim may not be accurate. The New York Times report noted that a document detailing the Border Patrol’s Uniform and Grooming Standards in 2025 did not include a greatcoat as part of the official uniform.Bovino’s hairstyle did not help either. While it is technically a version of the standard crew cut, his tightly cropped hair and dark clothing “give the unmistakable whiff of dictators and of the 1930s,” said Harold James, a professor of history at Princeton University, as quoted in the NYT report.<h2>Why the Department of Homeland Security attracts Nazi Germany comparisons</h2>Curbing and “cleansing” immigrants was one of the main tasks of Hitler’s Nazi apparatus. Besides millions of Jews, the Gestapo and the German military rounded up thousands of migrants and sent them to concentration camps, many of whom were later executed. Such historical memories have led to comparisons between the US Department of Homeland Security and Nazi Germany.

US Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino sparked off debate after appearing in Minnesota wearing a greatcoat likened to Nazi Germany attire. This came amid violent ICE protests and debate over his role. He is getting out of Minnesota now

As Minnesota’s anti-immigration drive and the resultant protests reached a violent crescendo earlier this month, US Border Patrols commander-at-large Gregory Bovino made an appearance wearing a long coat. The army-green greatcoat was eerily similar to the costumes of Hitler’s Nazi officers, particularly the leaders of the SS and the Gestapo, and a ubiquitous part of Nazi Germany iconography and historical imagery. Whether deliberate or unfortunately coincidental, his alleged ‘Nazi cosplay’ became a symbol of the conflict between Minnesotans and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents that Bovino led. Now, Bovino has been given the marching orders by US President Donald Trump to get out of Minnesota and is replacing him with his border czar Tom Homan. There are unconfirmed reports that he might also lose his ‘commander-at-large’ designation as he returns to his home base of California. Here is the story of how Bovino’s coat became part of the controversy: Symbolism is everything, sometimes: How Gregory Bovino’s sartorial choices became a hot topic Between two fatal shootings — of Renee Good and Alex Pretti — and amid the street fights between locals and ICE, Bovino appeared with a group of men. His dress was in sharp contrast to the others, who were sporting bomber jackets or tactical vests, covering their faces with balaclavas or neck gaiters. From their civilian appearance, some of them could have been plainclothes enforcement officers, right-wing anti-immigration supporters, or bystanders. Among them, Bovino’s clothing stood out. His greatcoat was described in a New York Times report as “the long, double-breasted army-green coat with wide lapels, big metallic buttons, epaulettes and insignia on the arms”. Bovino accessorised it with black leather shoes and gold-trimmed patches, in what an expert described as “a look intended to intimidate and provoke”. It was eye-catching and caused a social media maelstrom when videos and images of Bovino from the scene were shared online. Also read: Who is Greg Bovino? Trump's controversial border patrol officer at centre of Alex Pretti shooting row — Has be been fired? ICE uniforms are already being compared to Nazis For context, the SS, or Schutzstaffel, was the elite ideological, paramilitary and security organisation of Nazi Germany, while the Gestapo was the plainclothes secret police force designed to hunt down Hitler’s opponents. https://www.wionews.com/videos/far-right-activists-ousted-by-anti-ice-demonstrators-in-minneapolis-1768728054133/embed In the past few years, ICE officers’ clothing became a contentious symbol of enforcement, including the fact that many agents covered their identities with facemasks or scarves. Bovino's' greatcoat in Minneapolis was not the first time he wore it. In 2025, as Bovino led ICE operations in Los Angeles and Chicago, the Department of Homeland Security posted a video of him in action with the caption, “We Will Not Be Stopped”, set against the Coldplay song "Viva la Vida". The video also featured several photos of Bovino wearing the greatcoat. That was when he was compared online to the Gestapo or the SS chiefs. “If you think the calls of fascism and authoritarianism are hyperbole, pause and watch this video,” California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom posted on X while sharing the DHS video. Also read: Trump pulls some ICE agents from Minnesota after backlash on Alex Pretti killing — Will controversial Bovino leave? Bovino’s greatcoat: SS getup or standard uniform? As criticism mounted, the government stepped in to explain, with Tricia McLaughlin of the Homeland Security department saying Bovino’s coat was a “standard-issue Border Patrol winter dress uniform”. Bovino has worn it since 1999, wrote the assistant secretary for public affairs. “Manufacturing fake outrage and likening law enforcement to the Nazis or Gestapo is incredibly dangerous,” she added. McLaughlin's claim may not be accurate. The New York Times report noted that a document detailing the Border Patrol’s Uniform and Grooming Standards in 2025 did not include a greatcoat as part of the official uniform. Bovino’s hairstyle did not help either. While it is technically a version of the standard crew cut, his tightly cropped hair and dark clothing “give the unmistakable whiff of dictators and of the 1930s,” said Harold James, a professor of history at Princeton University, as quoted in the NYT report. Why the Department of Homeland Security attracts Nazi Germany comparisons Curbing and “cleansing” immigrants was one of the main tasks of Hitler’s Nazi apparatus. Besides millions of Jews, the Gestapo and the German military rounded up thousands of migrants and sent them to concentration camps, many of whom were later executed. Such historical memories have led to comparisons between the US Department of Homeland Security and Nazi Germany.

US Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino sparked off debate after appearing in Minnesota wearing a greatcoat likened to Nazi Germany attire. This came amid violent anti-ICE protests and debate over his role. He is getting out of Minnesota now

Gregory Bovino, the ‘Nazi’: Did ‘SS greatcoat’ cost border patrol top dog his Minnesota job?

Former MSNBC broadcaster Mehdi Hasan took a dig at US President Donald Trump during a speech at the No Kings protest in Washington. During the demonstration, in which thousands of people across America participated, Hasan said, &nbsp;“The great irony is, of course, that Donald Trump is the son of an immigrant, the grandson of an immigrant, and married to an immigrant."Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/creating-viable-alternative-to-govern-gaza-key-to-success-of-peace-plan-hamas-will-fail-jared-kushner-1760902542892">Creating ‘viable alternative’ to govern Gaza key to peace plan success: Kushner</a>“In fact, two of his three wives were immigrants, proving yet again that immigrants will do the jobs that even Americans are not willing to do,” he added."And we immigrants, we love this country often more than the people who are born here because we chose to move here, live here, swear an oath to the Constitution here," Hasan said.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-fooled-by-his-advisers-colombian-prez-after-trump-called-him-drug-leader-1760897447020">‘Fooled by his advisers’: Colombian prez after Trump called him ‘drug leader’</a>Ivana Trump, Trump's ex-wife, is from the Czech Republic, and Melania Trump, the first lady, is an immigrant from Slovenia.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-ceasefire-at-risk-us-warns-of-hamas-attack-on-civilians-militants-call-claim-false-say-we-categorically-deny-it-1760860736782">Gaza ceasefire at risk? US warns of new Hamas attack, militants call claim false</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Oh. Well done Medhi Hasan. <a href="https://t.co/F7jWTihLjE">pic.twitter.com/F7jWTihLjE</a>&mdash; Dec Lee (@declee1949) <a href="https://twitter.com/declee1949/status/1979696060953170144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, Donald Trump announced on Sunday (Oct 19) that he was going to cease the "large scale payments and subsidies" to Colombia. The American president said this after calling the President of the South American nation Gustavo Petro an "illegal drug leader".&nbsp;"The purpose of this drug production is the sale of massive amounts of product into the United States, causing death, destruction, and havoc," Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social.&nbsp;“It has become the biggest business in Colombia, by far, and Petro does nothing to stop it, despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long term rip off of America. AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLUMBIA,” Trump added.&nbsp;

Ivana Trump, Trump ex wife, is from the Czech Republic, and Melania Trump, the first lady, is an immigrant from Slovenia.

Former MSNBC broadcaster Mehdi Hasan took a dig at US President Donald Trump during a speech at the No Kings protest in Washington. During the demonstration, in which thousands of people across America participated, Hasan said, “The great irony is, of course, that Donald Trump is the son of an immigrant, the grandson of an immigrant, and married to an immigrant." Also read: Creating ‘viable alternative’ to govern Gaza key to peace plan success: Kushner “In fact, two of his three wives were immigrants, proving yet again that immigrants will do the jobs that even Americans are not willing to do,” he added. "And we immigrants, we love this country often more than the people who are born here because we chose to move here, live here, swear an oath to the Constitution here," Hasan said. Also read: ‘Fooled by his advisers’: Colombian prez after Trump called him ‘drug leader’ Ivana Trump, Trump's ex-wife, is from the Czech Republic, and Melania Trump, the first lady, is an immigrant from Slovenia. Also read: Gaza ceasefire at risk? US warns of new Hamas attack, militants call claim false

Ivana Trump, Trump's ex-wife, is from the Czech Republic, and Melania Trump, the first lady, is an immigrant from Slovenia.

‘The great irony is...’: Mehdi Hassan trolls Trump at No Kings protest, says US president’s wives...

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France is burning. Trump blames immigrants. But who is answering Europe's real questions? | The Verdict

Greg Bovino the ‘Nazi’: Did ‘SS greatcoat’ cost ICE chief his Minnesota job?

Mehdi Hassan trolls Trump at No Kings protest, says US president’s wives...