President Donald Trump arrived in France on Monday for the Group of Seven (G7) summit, where he is expected to hold a series of high-profile meetings against the backdrop of a newly announced agreement with Iran, an Ebola outbreak, ongoing fighting in Ukraine, and renewed disputes with several European allies.
Shortly before his first meeting, Trump signaled tensions with some members, posting a sharp critique of some European countries’ immigration policies. 
&#8220;Sadly, if you import people from Third World Countries, you quickly become a Third World Country — And there&#8217;s not a thing you can do about it. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116754288530173924">wrote</a>.
Trump has frequently criticized several European governments over mass migration and border security, including G7 members France and the United Kingdom. 
Trump&#8217;s first major bilateral meeting will be with French President Emmanuel Macron Monday before joining fellow G7 leaders for the summit&#8217;s opening events in Evian-les-Bains, a resort spa town on the shores of Lake Geneva near the Swiss border.
Over the next three days, Trump is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Macron, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
Trump will also join fellow G7 leaders and invited guests, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for a series of working sessions focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, economic development, and global trade before concluding the trip on Wednesday.
The summit comes at a pivotal moment for the international community, with Trump announcing that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran has been reached and Vice President JD Vance announcing he will attend a signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday. In a phone interview with Fox News, Vance said President Trump may also make an appearance, pending logistical planning.
&#8220;I certainly plan to be there. It&#8217;s possible the president himself could be there,&#8221; Vance said. &#8220;We got a lot of work to do, but a very big win for the American people tonight.&#8221;
On Sunday evening, Trump announced that negotiators had finalized a long-sought agreement with Iran that would allow for the immediate reopening of the critical shipping lane.
&#8220;The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!&#8221; Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The precise terms of the agreement remain unclear, particularly regarding Iran&#8217;s nuclear program. According to The New York Times, Trump suggested in an interview on Sunday that he could accept a deal under which Iran suspends uranium enrichment for 15 years.
Such a provision would mark a significant shift from the administration&#8217;s previously stated position. As recently as April 8, Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116368825638596650">declared</a> on Truth Social that there would be &#8220;no enrichment of Uranium.”
The fallout from the Iran conflict and the newly announced agreement with Tehran is likely to loom large over discussions at the G7, particularly after tensions flared between Trump and several member states that declined his calls to participate in efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz and instead criticized the U.S. military operation.
Trump publicly expressed frustration with the United Kingdom for its reluctance to become involved, blasted France after officials criticized the strikes, said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lacked courage, and lashed out at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after the German leader suggested Iran had “humiliated” the United States.
“The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” Trump wrote on Truth <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116483733181582907">Social</a>.
Following the dispute, Trump announced the withdrawal of thousands of U.S. troops from Germany, though part of that move was later offset by deployments to Poland.
France, which holds the current G7 presidency, is seeking areas of cooperation to cool tensions. According to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/14/trump-g7-iran-ukraine-ebola-00960717?utm_content=politico/magazine/Politics&amp;utm_source=flipboard">Politico</a>, Macron plans to pursue consensus on critical mineral supply chains, cancer research, child online safety, international development, social impact investing, and efforts to reduce investment risks in developing nations.
The war in Ukraine will also be a central focus of the summit. Zelensky is expected to attend as Kyiv is making notable territorial gains against Russia, but is seeking more U.S. missiles.
Here&#8217;s a look at Trump&#8217;s public schedule for the three-day summit:
(Times listed in Eastern Time)
Monday, June 15
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">11:30 a.m. — Bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1:00 p.m. — Official greeting with G7 leaders</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1:30 p.m. — G7 leaders&#8217; working dinner</li>
</ul>
Tuesday, June 16
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">3:00 a.m. — Working session with G7 leaders and Ukraine</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">4:30 a.m. — Bilateral meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">5:15 a.m. — Bilateral meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">6:00 a.m. — Working lunch with G7 leaders and the Middle East</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">9:00 a.m. — Working session with G7 leaders and developing countries</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1:15 p.m. — Cultural performance and concert</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">2:15 p.m. — G7 leaders&#8217; social dinner</li>
</ul>
Wednesday, June 17
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">3:30 a.m. — Working session with G7 leaders and developing countries</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">5:30 a.m. — Bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">6:30 a.m. — Working lunch with G7 leaders, developing countries, and global technology CEOs</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">8:45 a.m. — Bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">9:30 a.m. — Press conference</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1:00 p.m. — Bilateral dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">TBD — Departure from France for Washington, D.C.</li>
</ul>
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<div>Trump arrived in Europe accompanied by a large delegation of senior administration officials and advisers. According to the White House, those traveling aboard Air Force One included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Counselor to the President Alina Habba, and several other top aides involved in foreign policy, trade, and economic negotiations.</div>
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TOPSHOT-FRANCE-G7-SUMMIT

Trump To Confront Divided West In G7 Showdown

Trump's G7 Agenda: Iran, Ukraine, And A Divided West

Donald Trump

France

Germany

Iran

Italy

United Kingdom

France and Germany’s $116 billion attempt to build their own fighter jet to replace their current models has officially been scrapped.
The fighter plane segment of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project created in 2017 dedicated $116 billion to build sixth-generation jets to use in battle by 2040. 
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that the project was no longer feasible after months of stalemate between Dassault Aviation and Airbus, France&#8217;s and Germany’s industry partners respectively.
“The German authorities considered that it was not possible to put further pressure on the companies concerned,” Macron’s office, the Élysée Palace, explained in a statement.
The proposed fighter planes were supposed to combine advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, enhanced stealth technology, and other upgrades to use them for future air combat.
Signs of the potential flaming out were seen earlier this year. European Union Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius admitted that the plan was a “failure” and that Europe has struggled in &#8220;multinational defense projects.&#8221;
The FCAS project failure raises multiple questions about the integrity of Europe’s national defense. Leaders in Europe believed the plan was a test if they could develop advanced technology as they promised without the help of the United States. France and Germany have recently struggled with a next-generation tank project with the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) as well.
It also underlined potential disagreements between the two governments, which have both already expressed their alternative options after the project fell through.
Merz has publicly inquired if the sixth-generation planes will even be necessary, and that their requirements for the planes were not similar to those of France’s. France, on the other hand, is actively pursuing similar blueprints.
“The French authorities will continue to encourage our companies and armed forces to explore ways and means of pursuing ambitious European projects that are consistent with our national security interests,” the Élysée Palace added in its official statement.
While Berlin is looking into possible substitutes following the collapse, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius explained that if FCAS were to be thought of today, it simply wouldn’t happen.
“With what we know today, we would no longer launch this project in the way it was originally set up,” Pistorius told officials.
European countries are continuing to struggle to enhance their arms without the help of America in a time when everyone else is quickly advancing.

Fa-52 Fighter Jets

Europe’s $116 Billion Fighter Jet Project Crashes And Burns

Europe

fighter jets

Military

A court ruled that two Pakistani men are now facing the death penalty following an assault on a woman visiting from France on September 9, 2020, a decision far harsher than would be made in the Western country the French-Pakistani woman now resides in.
Although France abolished capital punishment 45 years ago, judges in Pakistan determined the verdict regardless of where the woman was from. The country is one of the harshest users of the death penalty across the world, as it has over 33 crimes punishable by execution, according to <a href="https://data.jpp.org.pk/en/page/vr3ndbefc0o">Justice Project Pakistan</a>.
Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali were convicted on gang rape, kidnapping, robbery, and terrorism charges in March 2021 after raping the woman at gunpoint in front of her three children on the popular Sialkot-Lahore highway after they ran out of gas and she was pulled out of her vehicle.
The dual-nationality woman, who remains unnamed to this day, was able to describe the two men after she was assaulted. The men also stole money, jewelry, and bank cards. Ali was arrested and identified just days later in September 2020, while Malhi was caught a month later. Both men&#8217;s DNA matched that at the crime scene.
Uproar across social media led to the case drawing national attention in Pakistan, and some activists demanded that the two men be executed. The case remained popular on social media after a policeman questioned why the family was not on a busier road that late at night, implying she was partly to blame.
The statements from the officer caused protests across the country. Overwhelming protests and social media outrage contributed to the death penalty remaining as the judgment, earning the nod from Elon Musk as well.
&#8220;Bravo Pakistan! This is what we should be doing in the West,&#8221; Musk posted on <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2062227093942161481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2062227093942161481%7Ctwgr%5E0a59bd6099fff3e92fc80471679f24dba9b20f5c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Findianexpress.com%2Farticle%2Fworld%2Felon-musk-pakistan-court-death-sentences-french-woman-gang-rape-lahore-motorway-2020-10723437%2F">X</a>.
Malhi and Ali appealed the death penalty ruling in 2021; however, their appeal was denied Wednesday. The men are set to be hanged, pending a possible Supreme Court appeal — which, even if unsuccessful, would likely push the execution back several years. The average time spent on death row in Pakistan is about 11 years, according to a Yale Law School <a href="https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/area/center/schell/2016_09_23_pub_dp_report.pdf">report</a>.

A noose rests on a brick floor by a man’s shadow.

Pakistan Is Tougher On Rapists Than Their Victim’s Western Country

Death Penalty

Pakistan

Rape

Underscoring the widening chasm between the Trump administration and &#8220;old Europe,&#8221; President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday to deliver a blistering rebuke of France’s refusal to support allied operations against the Iranian regime.
The president’s message was characteristically blunt and served as a clear warning to Paris: &#8220;The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116323516183718262">posted</a>. &#8220;France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the &#8216;Butcher of Iran,&#8217; who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!! President DJT.&#8221;
Trump’s ire comes as the United States and Israel continue military operations targeting Iran. European allies have taken varying positions, with the Macron government allegedly denying U.S. military flights headed for Israel access to French airspace.
French President Emmanuel Macron has even <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2026/03/17/macron-says-france-could-join-hormuz-ship-escorts-once-situation-calmer">ruled out</a> participating in operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most vital oil artery — insisting that France is &#8220;not party to the conflict.&#8221;
Israel has responded to France&#8217;s stance with cold pragmatism. Defense Minister Israel Katz and Ministry of Defense Director-General Amir Baram have issued directives to cease all new defense purchases from France. While existing contracts will be honored, the Israeli defense establishment is shifting its focus toward domestic production and &#8220;friendly suppliers&#8221; who, they say, don’t play both sides.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨🇮🇱🇫🇷 Israel has decided to halt all security procurement from France, an Israeli official told <a href="https://twitter.com/Jerusalem_Post?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jerusalem_Post</a>.
The decision to stop the purchases was made under the directive of Defense Minister Israel Katz and Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram. Apart from existing…
&mdash; Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmichaiStein1/status/2038879042414293027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
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France isn’t the only European power limiting support. Spain has similarly restricted certain U.S. military flights, while Italy recently denied U.S. bombers permission to use an air base in Sicily.
As the Trump administration continues to dismantle the Iranian terror apparatus, the reluctance of European allies to provide even basic logistical support brings to mind the <a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/jed-babbin-accordian-quote/">famous 2003 quip</a> from former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Jed Babbin: &#8220;Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. You just leave a lot of useless noisy baggage behind.&#8221;
Trump’s &#8220;The U.S.A. will remember&#8221; serves as a definitive signal: the era when America footed the bill for European security while those same nations obstructed American interests is over.

President Trump And EPA Administrator Zeldin Make An Announcement From The White House

‘THE USA WILL REMEMBER’: Trump Blasts France For Blocking Military Flights

Israel

As numerous &#8220;No Kings&#8221; rallies popped up across the United States, several signs and costumes prompted immediate ridicule — but perhaps none so much as the woman from Durham, North Carolina, who dressed in full 18th century garb and called on protesters to &#8220;give them 1789 France.&#8221;
The woman, apparently dressed as beheaded French aristocrat Marie Antoinette, wore a blonde wig styled in the traditional pouf and fake blood dripped over her pearl necklace. The only two things out of place were her sunglasses and the sign she held, which read, &#8220;They want 1939 Germany. Let&#8217;s give them 1789 France.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Spotted at a No Kings protest in Durham, North Carolina!
Epic creativity! <a href="https://t.co/sd6yWeUqn5">pic.twitter.com/sd6yWeUqn5</a>
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtCandee/status/2037918354787185060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
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And while her point was clearly a call to get rid of what she perceived as the &#8220;aristocracy&#8221; in the United States, several critics noted the irony of her invoking the French Revolution specifically. While the most famous public executions during that period were of high profile individuals like Antoinette and even King Louis XVI in 1793, the majority of those who died under the guillotine were commoners who dared to voice opposition to the revolutionaries. In addition, the revolution ultimately devolved into such chaos that the nation was already primed when Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in 1799 — and then returned to monarchy after Napoleon&#8217;s defeat some 15 years later.
In another ironic twist, recent <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/500-groups-3b-revenues-behind-nokings-protests-communist-call-revolution">reporting</a> from Fox News Digital indicated that the &#8220;No Kings&#8221; protests were bankrolled by a number of groups boasting a combined $3 billion in revenue — and by several communist and socialist groups who have been calling for &#8220;revolution&#8221; in the United States.
The lead organizers for protests in St. Paul, Minnesota, for example, were reportedly promoted by Indivisible — a relatively well-known Democratic organization funded by billionaire George Soros.
Neville Roy Singham — an American communist living in China with ties to radical organization CodePink — was also connected several other groups that sent representatives to the &#8220;No Kings&#8221; protests as well. Among those organizations are the People’s Forum in New York, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the ANSWER Coalition, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

US-POLITICS-DEMONSTRATION

‘No Kings’ Protester Calls For ‘1789’ — The History Behind It Tells A Different Story

'No Kings' Protester Calls For Return To 1789 France — Which Resulted In Monarchy

Monarchy

Politics

Protests

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signaled a potential seismic shift in American foreign policy, questioning why the United States continues to shoulder the burden of policing the Strait of Hormuz for nations that refuse to support its strategic objectives.
&#8220;I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Strait?’&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!!&#8221;
<iframe class="truthsocial-embed" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116250203405172359/embed" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>
The president’s comments highlight a glaring disparity: while the U.S. Navy has historically secured the waterway, the primary beneficiaries are Asian and European powers. China leads the pack, importing 38% of the oil transiting the strait, followed by India (15%), Japan (90% of its total crude), and South Korea. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern exporters like Kuwait and Qatar remain entirely or heavily dependent on the passage.
Despite this reliance, several European allies have refused to assist the United States in the current regional conflict. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/16/europe-donald-trump-strait-hormuz-iran"> stated</a> definitively, &#8220;We will not do so,&#8221; while Spain has gone as far as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/02/spain-denies-united-states-permission-military-bases-iran-pedro-sanchez">blocking</a> American forces from using its bases for operations against Tehran. <a href="https://www.military.com/feature/2026/03/15/italy-says-it-will-not-join-iran-war-and-begins-pulling-back-troops.html">Italy</a> and Greece have similarly declined military participation.
French President Emmanuel Macron has been particularly defiant. After the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iranian targets in late February, Macron labeled the actions &#8220;outside the framework of international law.&#8221; On Tuesday, he <a href="https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/france-will-never-take-part-operations-unblock-hormuz-strait-amid-hostilities">doubled down</a>, declaring France is &#8220;not a party to the conflict&#8230; will never take part in operations to open or liberate the Strait of Hormuz in the  current context.&#8221; While Macron deployed the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the region, he insists it is for a &#8220;European-led&#8221; mission independent of Washington&#8217;s command.
Even the United Kingdom has hesitated, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer <a href="https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2026/03/18/pbcq-m18.html">stating</a> the UK will not be drawn into &#8220;the wider war.&#8221; Only Poland and the Baltic states have offered firm political backing, citing Iran’s military ties to Russia.
This lack of cooperation has forced regional exporters to scramble for alternatives. Saudi Arabia has <a href="https://energynewsbeat.co/saudi-arabias-pipeline-investment-pays-off/">boosted</a> its East-West Pipeline capacity to 7 million barrels per day (bpd), though effective export capacity at the Red Sea port of Yanbu remains capped at 3–4 million bpd. The UAE’s ADCOP pipeline to Fujairah is running at a maximum of 1.8 million bpd but has faced drone threats. Iraq, which recently signed a deal to resume exports through Turkey at a modest 250,000 bpd, remains largely paralyzed.
With 20 million barrels per day typically transiting the strait, the current bypasses are woefully insufficient. Trump’s message is clear: if the nations most dependent on this oil — and the &#8220;allies&#8221; who benefit from U.S. protection — refuse to stand with America against the &#8220;Iranian Terror State,&#8221; they may soon find themselves responsible for their own security in the world’s most dangerous chokepoint.

President Donald Trump Meets With German Chancellor Friedrich Merz At The White House

Trump Warns Allies: Help Fight Iran Or Secure The Strait of Hormuz Yourself

Executive

Global Politics

Strait of Hormuz

The French government has <a href="https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10688119">officially authorized</a> the United States to utilize its strategic air bases across the Middle East and East Africa, the French military reportedly said on Thursday.
The move, described by defense officials as a &#8220;temporary authorization,&#8221; transforms French installations into vital &#8220;safe harbors&#8221; for American strike, refueling, and reconnaissance operations.
The shift in French policy follows a direct provocation on Sunday, when an Iranian drone struck a hangar at the Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. That attack appears to have been the catalyst for Paris to &#8220;unleash&#8221; American access to its most sensitive regional hubs.
The authorization centers on three critical locations that provide the United States with a geographic advantage it previously lacked due to restrictions in other Gulf states:
<ul>
<li data-path-to-node="5,0,0">Al-Dhafra Air Base (UAE): Now the central nerve center for French-U.S. integration, the base is hosting a combined force of French Rafale jets alongside American F-35C Lightning II stealth fighters and KC-135 Stratotankers. This allows the United States to maintain a persistent stealth presence over the Persian Gulf.</li>
<li data-path-to-node="5,1,0">Prince Hasan Air Base (Jordan): Known as &#8220;H5,&#8221; this French-operated facility is now staging U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles—recently relocated from RAF Lakenheath—and MQ-9 Reaper. These assets are tasked with patrolling the volatile Syrian-Iraqi border to intercept proxy movements.</li>
<li data-path-to-node="5,2,0">Base Aérienne 188 (Djibouti): In the Horn of Africa, France has granted U.S. EA-18G Growlers access to the French side of the runway. These specialized electronic warfare aircraft are providing a critical &#8220;digital shield&#8221; for Red Sea shipping lanes currently targeted by regional insurgents.</li>
</ul>
The Pentagon is leveraging these French facilities to ratchet up specific capabilities that traditional carrier-based wings struggle to sustain during prolonged conflict. By utilizing land-based French runways, the United States can deploy heavier ordnance and maintain longer times for electronic jamming and intelligence gathering.
As French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot indicated to BFMTV, this is not merely a logistical arrangement but a &#8220;forward deterrence&#8221; mandate. With French Rafales now flying joint air-security sorties with American F-35s, the alliance has signaled a unified front against Iranian aggression, ensuring that the coalition&#8217;s &#8220;lethal prowess&#8221; remains uninhibited by regional diplomatic friction.

TOPSHOT-FRANCE-JORDAN-DIPLOMACY-DEFENCE-ARMY-CHRISTMAS

The Catalyst Behind Major NATO Member’s Sudden Shift With U.S. Forces

U.S. Military

As the sun set in Paris, a suspected Islamist terrorist was shot after charging French police with a bladed weapon near the Arc de Triomphe during a solemn ceremony Friday evening, authorities said. The attack unfolded shortly before the daily rekindling of the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of France’s most symbolically charged national rites.
Police identified the assailant as Brahim Bahrir, a 48-year-old French national who had been released from prison on Dec. 24, 2025, after serving 12 years of a 17-year sentence for terrorism-related violence. According to a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/paris-police-attacked-arc-triomphe-61a6af125becebd1d425c7e0b14a8f79">report</a> from the Associated Press, Bahrir was convicted in 2013 for stabbing three Belgian police officers in Molenbeek, a Brussels suburb, as part of a terrorist enterprise. He was later transferred to France to complete his sentence before his release late last year.
The Friday attack occurred shortly after 6 p.m. local time as members of the Republican Guard were conducting the Flame-of-the-Unknown-Soldier ceremony. Bahrir reportedly lunged at an officer, armed with a knife and scissors, prompting police to open fire. One officer sustained minor injuries before another officer shot the suspect multiple times, stopping the attack.
French authorities said no bystanders were injured. Bahrir was transported to the Georges-Pompidou European Hospital in critical condition, but later died of his wounds, according to the national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office.
Officials confirmed that Bahrir was already known to authorities and had been placed under post-release surveillance due to his prior radicalization and assessed threat level. He was subject to routine reporting requirements at the time of the attack.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the incident as an act of terrorism and praised the police response, commending officers for their composure and for preventing what he said could have been far worse during a ceremony attended by civilians, including schoolchildren.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
À l’Arc de Triomphe ce soir, alors que la Flamme était ravivée, une attaque terroriste a visé la Garde républicaine.
Je salue le courage et le sang-froid exemplaires de nos gendarmes et de nos militaires de Sentinelle : ils ont mis fin à l’attaque et évité le pire.…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/2022413803720188337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The nearby metro station was temporarily closed at the request of police, and security forces sealed off the area around the monument, which was converted into a crime scene. The traffic circle surrounding the Arc de Triomphe remained open, though the landmark itself was closed to the public as the investigation began at the scene of the crime.
France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor has opened an investigation into the attack.
The incident comes amid renewed scrutiny across Europe over Islamist violence carried out by individuals already known to security services, often following prison release. Recent attacks and foiled plots in France, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/multiple-people-stabbed-by-arab-looking-man-in-terror-attack-on-diversity-festival-in-germany-report">Germany</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/alleged-isis-member-kills-2-in-brussels-belgium-raises-terror-alert-level-to-extremely-serious">Belgium</a>, and the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c875xgxjgj2o">United Kingdom</a> have fueled concerns that existing monitoring regimes are insufficient to contain the long-term threat posed by radicalized offenders, particularly as European governments grapple with high levels of immigration from regions affected by Islamist extremism and ongoing instability.
Friday’s attack, carried out at the heart of French national symbolism by a convicted terrorist under supervision, is likely to intensify debate over counterterrorism enforcement, post-release monitoring, and whether Western governments are adequately confronting the ideological roots of Islamist violence rather than merely responding to its aftermath.

TOPSHOT-FRANCE-CRIME-POLICE-DEMO

Police Fatally Shoot Suspected Islamic Terrorist Behind Paris Knife Attack

Paris

Radical Islam

Terrorism

World

Police raided the Paris offices of Elon Musk&#8217;s social media company X on Tuesday amid a wide-ranging probe into allegations that X has allowed sexually explicit deepfakes on its platform and has abused its algorithms.
The Paris prosecutor&#8217;s office sent a cybercrime unit to X&#8217;s offices and summoned Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino to appear for a hearing in Paris on April 20, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/paris-prosecutors-cybercrime-unit-searches-french-office-musks-x-2026-02-03/">reported</a>. France&#8217;s investigation into X began last year with the European country looking into alleged bias in the social media platform&#8217;s algorithms. That investigation has now expanded as prosecutors in Paris are investigating allegations that pornographic deepfakes, including child pornography, and Holocaust denialism have been allowed to spread on X.
Prosecutors are also seeking to interview X managers to gain more information into the platform&#8217;s operations, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/france-paris-prosecutors-x-office-elon-musk-sexual-deepfakes-holocaust-rcna257202">reported</a>. The European Union&#8217;s law enforcement agency Europol also commented on the raid, saying it involved &#8220;a range of suspected criminal offenses linked to the functioning and use of the platform, including the dissemination of illegal content and other forms of online criminal activity.&#8221;
X&#8217;s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, has been criticized for allowing users to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-chatbot-diaries-how-ai-sex-is-getting-mainstreamed">generate</a> sexually explicit images and videos. The chatbot also allows users to upload images to alter or to make into videos. Musk&#8217;s platform warns users against &#8220;depicting likenesses of persons in a pornographic manner.&#8221;
Musk has not commented on the Paris raid directly, but the X owner shared multiple posts from other X users who slammed France over the raid. Musk also shared a House Judiciary GOP <a href="https://x.com/JudiciaryGOP/status/2018683758006665352">report</a> on Tuesday, which found that the European Union began pressuring American social media companies to censor political posts that it opposed as early as 2015. House Judiciary GOP <a href="https://x.com/JudiciaryGOP/status/2018683797630276083">said</a> that in the past ten years, the European Union &#8220;successfully pressured social media platforms to censor true information in the United States; Targeted U.S. political content for censorship; and Interfered in elections across Europe.&#8221;
The raid on X&#8217;s offices in Paris comes as European countries continue to pressure American social media companies to crack down on certain posts. In December, the European Union <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/engaging-in-censorship-european-union-hits-elon-musks-x-with-massive-fine-draws-white-house-ire">fined</a> X $140 million under its expansive internet accountability regulations. The European Union accused X of failing to meet advertising transparency requirements in violation of the Digital Services Act, which was put into place to clamp down on what the bloc views as illegal content and misinformation on social media.
Europe&#8217;s actions have also drawn criticism from President Trump and his administration. After the European Union fined X, Trump told reporters that &#8220;Europe has to be very careful.&#8221;
&#8220;They’re doing a lot of things. … Europe is going in some bad directions. It’s very bad for the people,&#8221; he added.
In December, the State Department announced that it would bar some of the people involved in Europe&#8217;s tech censorship effort from entering the United States.
&#8220;For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose. The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship,&#8221; Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Elon Musk, X

French Police Raid X’s Paris Offices As Part Of Investigation Into Elon Musk’s Social Media Company

Big Tech

Elon Musk

Social Media

France&#8217;s National Assembly on Monday backed legislation to ban children under 15 years old from social media on Monday, amid growing concerns about online bullying and mental health risks.
The bill proposes banning under-15s from social networks and &#8220;social networking functionalities&#8221; embedded within broader platforms, and reflects rising public angst over the impact of social media on minors.
Lawmakers voted 116 to 23 in favor of the bill. It now passes to the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.
President Emmanuel Macron has pointed to social media as one factor to blame for violence among young people. He is urging France to follow Australia, whose world-first ban for under-16s on social media platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube came into force in December.
Macron wants the ban in place in time for the start of the next academic year in September.
&#8220;With this law, we are setting a clear boundary in society and saying social media is not harmless,&#8221; centrist lawmaker Laure Miller told the chamber as she presented the bill.
&#8220;Our children are reading less, sleeping less, and comparing themselves to one another more,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;This is a battle for free minds.&#8221;
Australia&#8217;s social media ban is being studied in countries including Britain, Denmark, Spain and Greece.
The European Parliament has called for the European Union to set minimum ages for children to access social media, although it is up to member states to impose age limits.
There is broad political and public support in France for curbing minors&#8217; access to social media.
Far-right lawmaker Thierry Perez said the bill responded to a &#8220;health emergency.&#8221;
&#8220;Social media has allowed everyone to express themselves, but at what cost to our children?” Perez said.
The French ban would require platforms to block access to young teenagers through age‑verification mechanisms compliant with European Union law.
Enforcing such bans can be difficult. Australia&#8217;s government acknowledged the rollout of its ban would be bumpy after children claiming to be under 16 flooded the country&#8217;s social media feeds with messages gloating about their continued ability to access networks.
The French legislation also extends an existing ban on smartphones in junior and middle schools to cover high schools.
A Harris Interactive survey in 2024 showed 73% of the public supported a ban on social media access for under-15s.
Teenagers on the streets of Paris were split in their views. Some said they acknowledged the dangers associated with social media. Others felt a ban was excessive.
(Reporting by Leigh Thomas and Elizabeth Pineau; Editing by Richard Lough, Alex Richardson and Diane Craft)

Social Media And Messaging Apps

France’s National Assembly Approves Ban On Social Media For Those Under 15 Years Old

Australia

Emmanuel Macron

After Spain, France, and Italy blocked a move to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, Dutch member of the European Parliament Bart Groothuis blasted the decision.
The IRGC acts as the &#8220;praetorian guard&#8221; for the Supreme Leader of Iran, tasked with ensuring the regime&#8217;s survival by crushing any internal opposition. Reports indicate that IRGC and Basij forces used live fire against peaceful demonstrators and even raided hospitals to arrest injured protesters. Estimates range from 5,000 to more than 15,000 deaths in January. The IRGC <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/14/iran-detainees-ill-treated-and-disappeared-after-israeli-evin-prison-attack">controls</a> its own intelligence apparatus and secret detention centers (such as Ward 2A of Evin Prison), where dissidents, journalists, and dual nationals are subjected to physical and psychological torture, forced confessions, and summary executions. Through its Quds Force, the IRGC operates as the world&#8217;s most active state sponsor of terrorism, conducting operations on nearly every continent.
Germany and the Baltic states are among the countries <a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/01/14/pressure-mounts-on-eu-to-list-irans-revolutionary-guards-as-terror-organization?utm_source=chatgpt.com">pushing</a> for the European Parliament to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Under EU rules, all 27 member states must agree for the designation to move forward.
“Italy, Spain, and France are against putting the Islamic Iranian Revolutionary Guard, IRGC, on the EU terrorist list,” Groothuis noted. “Let’s call things as they are: France, Spain, and Italy say there are legal obstacles. Well, maybe murdering people inside Europe, or funding several terrorist organizations, or burning synagogues in Düsseldorf; maybe that is not enough. But surely, unleashing chemical weapons on the Iranian population or killing many thousands of innocent civilians.”
“Spain, Italy, and France say they need a legal court order; well, there is one, like in Düsseldorf. And please ask Israel, Saudi Arabia, United States, Canada, Bahrain, who have already designated IRC a terrorist organization, whether there was a diplomatic collapse: there wasn’t. Can the High Representative formally acknowledge here today that it is these three countries — like the press is reporting constantly in the Council — who are blocking to list the IRGC? Will the High Representative be on our side to sanction the IRGC, and expose their children and grandchildren who are studying here in Europe, enjoying our liberties, while their relatives are pouring chemical weapons over the heads of innocent, freedom-abiding Persians?”
“Let’s call things as they are,” he repeated.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WOW. I’m speechless.
Spain, France, and Italy have BLOCKED the declaration of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.
Dutch Member of the European Parliament Bart Groothuis from the right-center party bloc &#8220;Renew Europe&#8221; opposes the blocks set by Spain,… <a href="https://t.co/LDAbCOwbeF">pic.twitter.com/LDAbCOwbeF</a>
— Chaya’s Clan (@ChayasClan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChayasClan/status/2013946594601599432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
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European Defence And Security Summit Held In Brussels

Dutch Lawmaker Slams France, Spain, Italy For Blocking Terror Label On Iranian Revolutionary Guards

European Union

Spain

terrorist

In her new book Les Nouveaux Antisémites (“The New Antisemites”), French journalist Nora Bussigny provides a <a href="https://fr.le360.ma/culture/parution-les-nouveaux-antisemites-enquete-au-coeur-de-lultragauche-francaise-de-nora-bussigny_SFUPHO6XJVFLTNNOMV4SM2ILWI/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">chilling account</a> of her year-long undercover investigation into France’s far-Left and activist circles. Bussigny, who is of Franco-Moroccan descent and not Jewish, infiltrated various organizations to document how traditional antisemitism has &#8220;metastasized&#8221; into a virulent form of anti-Zionism that now serves as a unifying force for otherwise fragmented radical groups.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
French journalist infiltrates anti-Israel groups, reveals antisemitism on far left in new book
Nora Bussigny goes undercover as pro-Palestinian activist for a year; in her bestseller The New Antisemites, she reveals how hatred of I&#8230;<a href="https://t.co/71THerZyB8">https://t.co/71THerZyB8</a> <a href="https://t.co/NmLuwGR7iJ">pic.twitter.com/NmLuwGR7iJ</a>
— Ynet Global (@ynetnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/ynetnews/status/2013006506166284477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“My concern keeps growing in the face of a future marked by the hunt for Jews…,” she notes. &#8220;I saw with my own eyes to what degree Islamists, far-left so-called ‘progressive’ militants and feminist, LGBT and ecological activists are closely linked in their shared hatred of Jews and Israel,” she told <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/an-undercover-reporter-joined-frances-anti-israel-movement-heres-what-she-found/">The Times of Israel</a>.
Through her infiltration of demonstrations, university campuses, and online forums, Bussigny documented several alarming trends:
<ul>
<li data-path-to-node="5,0,0">Vocabulary of Exclusion: Activists use coded language, referring to Israel as &#8220;the Zionist entity&#8221; or &#8220;Israhell&#8221; and the IDF as a &#8220;genocidal army.&#8221;</li>
<li data-path-to-node="5,1,0">Academic Radicalization: At elite institutions like Sciences Po and various medical schools, Jewish students face ostracization, intimidation, and open hostility. Bussigny details instances of swastikas on exam papers and students being forced to chant pro-Hamas slogans.</li>
<li data-path-to-node="5,2,0">Institutional Infiltration: Radical groups like Samidoun and Urgence Palestine — some with allegedly proven links to terrorism — frequently receive public funding and access to municipal facilities to host workshops.</li>
<li data-path-to-node="5,3,0">Digital Warfare: The investigation highlights the &#8220;digital guillotine,&#8221; where movements like Blockout use social media to harass public figures deemed insufficiently anti-Israel, often utilizing propaganda from foreign actors in Iran and Algeria.</li>
</ul>
Bussigny’s identity as a non-Jewish woman of Arab descent has made her a specific target for vitriol; she has been labeled a &#8220;traitor&#8221; and now requires police protection due to death threats. Despite a boycott of her book by several French bookstores, it has become a bestseller and earned the 2025 Prix Edgar Faure for best political book.
Her work has had significant legal and political repercussions. Her testimony before the National Assembly contributed to parliamentary inquiries into Islamist movements, and her exposure of anti-Israel influencers led to state action, including the freezing of assets and arrests for incitement to terrorism.
Bussigny concludes with a &#8220;cry of despair,&#8221; warning that if the radicalization of younger generations, such as Gen Z, continues unchecked, the future of French democracy is at risk. She argues that the &#8220;academic intifada&#8221; and the normalization of antisemitic tropes are no longer fringe issues but a &#8220;long march toward chaos&#8221; within the heart of French society.

FRANCE-CRIME-SWASTIKA

‘The Hunt For Jews’: Undercover Investigation Reveals France’s Growing Antisemitism

antisemitism

undercover investigation

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