Berlin/Washington – US President Donald Trump is increasing pressure on Europe, demanding that leading EU nations immediately change their migration policies. If they fail to do so, the president warns, there will be irreversible changes on the continent – and the alliance with the US will be in jeopardy.
In an interview with POLITICO, which, like BILD, belongs to Axel Springer's Global Reporters Network, Donald Trump said about the Europeans:"Their migration policy is a disaster. What they are doing with migration is a disaster." If things continue as they are, then"in my opinion, many of these countries will no longer be viable."
With this move, the American president is intensifying his criticism of Europe, which was already included in his new"National Security Strategy" and has led to renewed tensions between Washington and Brussels. The Trump document stated, among other things, that the US was fostering"resistance" against the EU within Europe.
"I hate to watch that."
In the POLITICO interview, Trump doubled down, claiming that a large number of criminals were immigrating to Europe: “In Europe, they come from all parts of the world. Not just from the Middle East, they come from the Congo, huge numbers from the Congo. And even worse: They come from the prisons of the Congo and many other countries.” Europe, he said, was “politically correct” and wasn’t sending people back.
Trump: "And I hate to watch this. This is one of the greatest places in the world, and they just allow people to come in unchecked, without any control, without any verification." He demands: "I think they should deport the people who have come into their countries illegally."
“Merkel has made two big mistakes: migration and energy”
According to the US president, parts of Europe are barely recognizable because of migration policies."If you look at Paris: it's a completely different place. I used to love Paris. It's a completely different place now than it used to be." He said the situation was similar in Sweden.
Regarding Germany, Trump said: “Look at Germany. Germany was virtually crime-free, and Merkel made two big mistakes: migration and energy. And those were two real hammer blows.”
He praised Hungary and Poland as positive examples, saying they had done a"very good job".
The American head of state made it clear that he views the migration policies of many European states as a threat to the transatlantic alliance – and did not rule out interference in the EU election campaigns.
Regarding EU leaders, Trump said:"They mustn't let this happen, and at some point you reach a point where you can't correct it anymore." Then their countries would "no longer be strong nations."
"They will be much weaker, and they will be very different."
When asked whether they could still be allies of the US, Donald Trump stated:"That depends." The US president continued: "They will change their ideology, obviously – because the people coming in have a completely different ideology. (...) But it will weaken them very much. They will be much weaker, and they will be very different."
When asked whether he would interfere in European elections, the American president did not deny it, but said: “I want to lead the United States. I don’t want to lead Europe. I am very involved in Europe.”
Trump pointed out that he had already actively supported foreign politicians: “Well, I have supported people. I have supported people that many Europeans don’t like. I have supported Viktor Orbán. I have, if you look at South America, Latin America… South America, supported Milei in Argentina. He was behind in the polls, and I supported him—and he then won by an overwhelming majority.”
