Khanna: France Riots Shouldn't Be Framed as Left-Wing Issue

2 min read

During a segment on Tuesday’s episode of the Fox News Channel’s ‘Fox & Friends,’ Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) addressed the recent wave of riots and property destruction in France. While he acknowledged the need to condemn such violence, he emphasized that the focus should not be on the political left.

Khanna responded to a statement by Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob S. Helberg, which had identified the unrest as left-wing terrorism. When co-host Brian Kilmeade asked if Khanna was saying Helberg was wrong to frame the riots as left-wing, Khanna clarified that the issue was not about labeling the violence as left-wing terrorism, but rather about understanding the underlying causes.

“He’s wrong to make it about the left wing,” Khanna said. “He’s right to identify rioting as totally wrong and to say that you should never be destroying property or national monuments. But I think that we have to look at what is the cause, initially, of the discontent in this country? Why are there so many protests of young people around the world? Because the price of oil has gone up, gas has gone up, diesel has gone up, they don’t think schools are being funded.”

Khanna’s comments reflect a broader debate over how to interpret and respond to social unrest. While some officials and media outlets have pointed to political motivations behind the riots, Khanna argues that economic and social factors are at the core of the issue. He highlighted rising living costs, including the surge in fuel prices, as key drivers of public frustration.

The conversation underscores the complexity of addressing civil unrest. While condemning violence is universally accepted, the challenge lies in determining the root causes and crafting effective solutions. Khanna’s stance suggests that policymakers should focus on systemic issues rather than political labels when addressing such events.

As the situation in France continues to evolve, the debate over the nature of the unrest and the appropriate responses remains a critical topic of discussion. Understanding the motivations behind the protests is essential for developing policies that address the underlying grievances of the affected populations.