President Trump turned the riots in France into his closing midterm argument at a campaign rally in Wichita, Kansas, on Monday, October 19, 2026, telling supporters: “When you see burning steeples and raging fires in France, just remember that is what the radical Democrats want to do to America. They expect to do it. They’re not going to come close.” The line was the standout moment of the France passage that ran through his speech at the Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, where he was campaigning for Sen. Roger Marshall.
In the same passage, Trump attacked European allies over the unrest in France and for refusing American requests for help on Iran, saying the allies answered “No, thank you” when asked to help. The rally remarks came as France imposed localized curfews after a weekend of rioting and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu warned that a state of emergency remained an option — events Zark News has covered in its reporting on the French unrest.
The footage in this clip is from the White House’s official rapid-response video of the rally and is in the public domain. The president’s characterization of his opponents is presented here as his own stated argument, in his own words, in context.
Video: The White House
