Macron slams Trump’s ‘stupid’ AI‑riot comments as political opportunism

President Emmanuel Macron used a press conference in Doha on Wednesday to rebuke a number of world leaders for turning the recent French riots into a political talking point. He singled out U.S. President Donald Trump, saying that the former president’s remarks about the unrest were "stupid" and that leaders were instrumentalising the turmoil for their own advantage.

Macron stressed that the video clips circulating online showing violent scenes were fabricated by artificial‑intelligence tools. He warned that sharing such fake footage only adds a layer of digital propaganda to an already volatile situation.

The French president noted that the Saturday disturbances involved both peaceful demonstrations and looting in several cities across the country. While the real unrest was a serious security concern, the spread of AI‑generated footage, he argued, distracts from the genuine issues at hand.

Macron’s message was clear: politicians should stop treating fabricated images as political ammunition. He urged journalists and the public to verify content before sharing, reminding everyone that fact‑checking remains a vital safeguard in the age of deep‑fakes.