Trump jokes about France protests: 'Let's go to Paris and join the revolution'

US President Donald Trump spoke sarcastically about “joining the revolution” ahead of the mass protests scheduled for Saturday in Paris, while French President Emmanuel Macron called for “calm and respect.” In a speech he delivered during an election rally, Friday, in the state of Georgia, Trump joked: “Let's go to France, join the revolution, and spend the $5,000 there,” referring to the promised financial reward if Republicans win the midterm elections for the US Congress.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in statements from the European Council headquarters in Brussels last night, called for “calm” regarding the protests planned for Saturday. Macron said: “There is a constitutional right to protest, but this right is accompanied by the need to be respectful.”

Hundreds of people gathered in Place de la République in Paris, where the main march began on Saturday. The police fired tear gas towards the crowds, which are currently peaceful.

A small number of "yellow vest" protesters were also present. Police in Lyon fired tear gas canisters to disperse about 300 people who gathered outside Jean Moulin University in the city earlier, according to the French channel BFMTV, which cooperates with the Ofoq News network.

Protests also began in Rennes and Marseille, where officers also used tear gas to disperse crowds. About 100 people have already been arrested across the Paris region, most of them on charges of possessing prohibited protective equipment, BFMTV reported.