President Donald Trump invoked France in a warning Monday about what he claimed could happen in the United States if Democrats prevail in the midterm elections, telling supporters to “look at what’s happening in France” as he urged them to preserve Republican control of Congress. Speaking at a rally in Park City, Kansas, near Wichita, for Republican Senator Roger Marshall, Trump referred to the current protests in France and described the country as being damaged by immigration and unrest. He told the crowd that when they see “burning steeples and raging fires in France,” they should remember that “is what the radical Democrats want to do to America.” Trump’s comments come after nationwide protests in France over affordability and public services spilled into violence in some cities, including looting, fires and clashes with police.
The president did not provide evidence that Democrats want violence or destruction in the United States. Newsweek reached out to the Democratic National Convention by email Monday night for comment. His appearance came 15 days before the November 3 election as Marshall faces an unexpectedly competitive challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the Kansas Senate race a toss-up, while NBC News characterizes it as competitive but leaning Republican. Trump’s remarks came during an intensive Republican push to mobilize voters as control of Congress remains at stake. The battle for Congress is playing out largely on Republican-held terrain, according to NBC News, which says Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance have also taken their campaign efforts into states and districts where Republican candidates are facing difficult contests. The reported earlier this month that Trump launched what he called a 32-day campaign blitz while Vance also hit the campaign trail. Republican groups spent more than $740 million on congressional contests from Labor Day through October 14, including at least $220 million from Trump-linked groups, according to a CNBC analysis of AdImpact data.
CNBC reported that Republicans were increasingly directing resources toward states including Kansas, Texas and Nebraska. Trump repeatedly invoked France during Monday night’s rally as he sought to frame the stakes of the November election around immigration and what he described as the future of Western countries. Trump described France as “a once great nation” that he claimed was being “conquered, looted and burned to the ground” and blamed migrants, extremists and left-wing politicians for the country's problems.
It’s never happening here.” Trump also recalled what he said was an earlier warning to French President Emmanuel Macron. His characterization of that conversation was not independently verified. The president broadened his criticism to other European nations, mentioning Italy and Germany and claiming that they were “losing their country.” He then tied his characterization of events in France directly to his argument against Democrats.
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