In the Republicans' 2016 primary, Estrosi also endorsed Sarkozy as the party's candidate for the 2017 French presidential election. Ten months ahead of elections, he and other local conservatives aggressively criticized Minister of the Interior Bernard Cazeneuve for the strength of the national police force presence on the night the 2016 Nice truck attack. Amid the Fillon affair, in March 2017, Estrosi joined Xavier Bertrand, Valérie Pécresse and others in calling for Alain Juppé to replace François Fillon as the party’s candidate. Also, he met with Emmanuel Macron during his campaign.