‘People don’t want to pay large sums of money, much to third world countries (that are questionably run), in order to maybe protect environment,’ says president<\/b>
\nPresident Donald Trump said France\u2019s new round of violent protests showed the Paris climate accord \u201cisn\u2019t working out so well\u201d as thousands of \u201cyellow vests\u201d clashed with police Saturday.
\u201cThe Paris Agreement isn\u2019t working out so well for Paris,\u201d Trump tweeted Saturday morning as France prepared for another wave of violent protests in Paris over President Emmanuel Macron\u2019s policies.
\u201cProtests and riots all over France. People do not want to pay large sums of money, much to third world countries (that are questionably run), in order to maybe protect the environment. Chanting \u2018We Want Trump!\u2019 Love France,\u201d Trump tweeted.
For weeks, tens of thousands of French have risen up to oppose planned hikes to carbon taxes on diesel and gasoline as part of Macron\u2019s climate agenda. Carbon taxes provided the spark for what\u2019s morphed into protests against Macron\u2019s attempts to revamp France\u2019s economy.
Thousands of protesters, called \u201cyellow vests\u201d for the safety jackets European law mandates all drivers have on hand, stormed the Champs-Elys\u00e9es for another round of protests. The entire city is basically shut down, including major tourist attractions.
The government deployed thousands of police officers in preparation for Saturday\u2019s protests. Paris protesters clashed with police on Saturday, who used tear gas and water cannons to corral protesters and arrest hundreds.
Macron initially resisted compromise, saying increased fuel taxes were needed to cut France\u2019s reliance on oil, which is part of his plan to comply with the Paris climate accord. Macron wants to reduce France\u2019s use of nuclear power and fossil fuels in exchange for solar and wind.
The French government caved to protesters\u2019 demands Wednesday, opting to scrap the carbon tax hikes entirely.
Trump claimed the protests showed the problems with the Paris climate accord, which the president said he would withdraw from in 2020 \u2014 the earliest available date to do so.
However, several media outlets said Trump was wrong to claim that protesters chanted \u201cwe want Trump\u201d as they marched. AFP and The Associated Press rated the claim as false, saying it stemmed from a video of a protest in the U. K. in June, not France.<\/p>\n