Donald Trump is asked in the interview if he wants to see "massive changes" in Europe, and then says that he believes that European countries "should get the people who entered the country illegally out."
"If you look at Sweden, Sweden was known as the safest country in Europe, one of the safest countries in the world. Now it's known as a very unsafe, well, quite unsafe country. It's hard to believe that's true, it's a completely different country," Trump said.
“I love Sweden”
Trump further says that European countries are “allowing millions of people to pour in” and that “many of these people are committing terrible crimes.”
Again, look at Sweden. I'm not bashing Sweden, I love Sweden. I love the Swedish people, but it has gone from being a country free of crime to a country that now has a lot of crime, the president says.
He describes most of Europe's countries as "weak" and in "decay," and that it seems like their leaders "don't know what to do" and that they are trying to be "so politically correct."
What they are doing to their countries should make them horrified. They are destroying their countries, says the president.
“Will give my support”
In the interview with Politico, Trump also says that he will continue to support political candidates he likes in European elections, even if he risks clashing with leaders.
"I will give my support. I have supported people, but I have stood behind people that many Europeans do not like. I have stood behind Viktor Orbán," the president says.
The interview comes just days after the US published its newsecurity strategy , in which Europe is warned of alleged "civilizational extinction" with reference to, among other things, immigration, low birth rates and threats to freedom of expression - and the US is urged to avoid following the same path.
European leaders have reacted strongly to the strategy, particularly the part where the Trump administration says it wants to support “patriotic” parties in Europe and “cultivate resistance” within European nations. It is interpreted as a threat that the United States may interfere in the internal affairs of EU countries.
