Macron Criticizes American Free Speech Amid France’s Student Riots

French President Emmanuel Macron said at the Complutense University in Madrid on Sept. 29 that the American model of free speech is “the opposite of free speech,” arguing that liberty must be bounded by the rights of others and public order. He added that truth must guide the flow of information and compared limits on speech to restrictions on assault or vandalism. Macron’s remarks came as France’s nationwide student protests—triggered by teacher shortages and school resource cuts—have escalated into blockades, clashes with riot police, and the burning of 24 schools, with 891 schools partially or fully closed. The comments sparked a sharp online backlash, with critics pointing to the unrest at home as evidence that France is “burning to the ground.”