Trump team uses French riots to fire up MAGA base before midterms

US President Donald Trump and his allies are exploiting the October 17 riots in France to rally his MAGA base ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, warning that a Democratic victory would expose the US to similar violence. Trump has repeatedly cited the unrest in Paris, Marseille, and Limoges to denounce immigration and Muslims, with images of the riots flooding social media and television coverage. A senior Republican strategist said the strategy aims to galvanize roughly 20 percent of the electorate, as Trump's absence from the ballot and voter anger make base mobilization difficult. The strategist noted that the main challenge is preventing supporters from staying home, calling the couch the "principal adversary" in the election. Trump's focus on the French riots comes during a tour of conservative states where Republican candidates face unexpected difficulties.