The Saints and Steelers are still set to play Sunday at Stade de France despite civil unrest and a State Department security alert.
President Donald Trump said Friday the NFL "could have probably postponed" Sunday's regular-season game between the Saints and Steelers in Paris, citing civil unrest in France.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said, "I think maybe it's looking like tomorrow is going to be a bad day in France. So you worry about it. I would have said the NFL could have probably postponed that match, if you want to know ... because France is really in trouble." He added, "That's what happens when you go left. That's what happens when you allow unlimited numbers of people into your country from very unfriendly countries."
The game, the NFL's first regular-season contest staged in France, is scheduled to kick off at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris. The unrest stems from student-led protests over poor school conditions that have escalated into broader anti-government demonstrations, with some incidents turning into riots. The U.S. State Department issued a security alert Thursday night noting that numerous groups had submitted plans for protests on Saturday, October 24. More protests are scheduled for Saturday, and French authorities have banned gatherings in some cities.
Despite the pushback, the NFL is moving forward with the game as planned.