Macron Condemns "Stupid" Foreign Comments, Citing Fake AI Videos During French Unrest

French President Emmanuel Macron accused foreign leaders, including US President Donald Trump, of spreading "unacceptable and even stupid comments" about recent unrest in France on October 21, 2026, specifically highlighting the impact of "fake AI videos" and AI-generated disinformation[10][11][13]. The direct rebuke came amidst a US midterm election cycle where over $137 million has been spent on AI-generated campaign advertisements[16][17].

This escalating use of artificial intelligence to create and disseminate misleading political content threatens to undermine public trust in information and exacerbate political divisions, impacting international relations and electoral processes worldwide.

What the records show

In Doha, Qatar, on October 21, 2026, President Macron criticized unidentified "foreign leaders" for their remarks on French civil disorder, specifically mentioning the influence of "fake AI videos"[10][11][13]. He implicitly and explicitly referenced US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu[10][11]. The French leader stated, "We saw images generated by AI which showed scenes that never took place in France," and refuted claims of a migrant invasion[12]. Macron accused these leaders of exploiting France's domestic issues for their own political campaigns[10][11][13]. During a rally in Kansas on October 19, 2026, President Trump described France as a nation "conquered, looted, and burned to the ground by migrants, jihadists, and communists"[20][21][22]. He urged Macron to "close your borders and take control before it is too late!"[12]. The US State Department, however, supported Trump's views, asserting his comments on mass migration and French protests were “spot on”[23]. Beyond France, Spain's conservative People's Party (PP) released an AI-generated video on October 22, 2026, featuring deepfakes of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife and other Socialist Party figures appearing to admit wrongdoing, ahead of general elections in November[1][2][3][4][5]. The 2026 US midterm elections have also seen over $137 million spent on more than 220 AI-generated campaign ads, predominantly from Republican candidates and groups, many of which use deepfakes to attack opponents and disseminate misleading information without clear disclosure[15][16][17]. French intelligence and EU regulators are investigating Russia-linked bot networks, including a group identified as Matryoshka, for spreading synthetic and recycled videos to exaggerate the disorder in France[14].

The timeline

In February 2025, Macron initially posted AI-generated videos of himself to promote an AI summit[6][9]. By December 2025, he called for stricter regulation after Facebook failed to remove an AI-generated video falsely claiming a coup in Paris, which garnered over 12 million views[8]. French unrest, involving riots and looting, occurred around October 17, 2026, following nationwide demonstrations concerning the rising cost of living[10][13]. On October 19, 2026, US President Donald Trump made his statements regarding France[20][21][22]. Macron delivered his criticism on October 21, 2026[10][11][13]. The Spanish deepfake video was released on October 22, 2026[1][2][3][4][5].

What changed and for whom

Artificial intelligence, once humorously embraced by leaders like Macron for promotional content, has rapidly transitioned into a contentious tool for international political disinformation campaigns[6][8][9][10][12]. The widespread dissemination of AI-generated content is now a direct point of diplomatic and political dispute between international leaders, as shown by Macron's public rebuke of Trump's comments[10][11][12][13]. Electoral integrity and voter trust are increasingly challenged as elections in the US and Spain are significantly impacted by AI-generated ads and deepfakes[1][2][3][4][5][15][16][17][18][19].

What the subject has said publicly

In February 2025, regarding AI-generated videos of himself, Macron commented, "Nicely done"[6][9]. In December 2025, after a fake coup video circulated, he advocated for stricter regulation of digital platforms and denounced the "powerlessness" of authorities in confronting online disinformation[8]. On October 21, 2026, Macron criticized foreign leaders for their "unacceptable and even stupid comments" and for being influenced by "fake AI videos"[10][11][13]. US President Donald Trump, on October 19, 2026, described France as a country being "conquered, looted, and burned to the ground by migrants, jihadists, and communists"[20][21][22]. He also urged Macron to "close your borders and take control before it is too late!"[12].

What we could not confirm

The specific number of AI-generated videos or images Macron referenced regarding the French unrest remains unconfirmed[10][12]. It is also unclear if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly commented on the French unrest or if his comments were influenced by AI disinformation[10][11].