Trump weighs in on French elections, suggests Marine Le Pen will benefit after Paris attack

WASHINGTON – While President Trump says he is not endorsing conservative Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election this weekend, he believes she will benefit politically from this week's attack on police officers in Paris.

"She's the strongest on borders and she's the strongest on what's been going on in France," Trump told the Associated Press on Friday. "Whoever is the toughest on radical Islamic terrorism, and whoever is the toughest at the borders, will do well in the election."

It is unusual for a U.S. president to discuss another country's elections in such terms.

In addition to calling for restrictions on immigration, Le Pen is campaigning on the kinds of economic nationalism themes that fueled Trump's victory in last year's presidential election as well as the decision by British voters to exit the European Union.

Trump's comments came hours after he tweeted: "Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!"

The Sunday election in France is a first round; the top two finishers will face each other in a run-off two weeks later.