Image: keystone
The American president takes strong shots against migration policy in Europe. However, Donald Trump excludes one head of government from his criticism.
December 9, 2025, 8:01 p.mDecember 9, 2025, 8:01 p.m
Renzo Ruf, Washington / ch media
The American president continues to rage against Europe. “Most European nations are falling apart,” says Donald Trump. He blames Europe’s top politicians for this development. “They are weak,” Trump said in an interview published on Tuesday with the publication “Politico,” which is part of the German Axel Springer Group.
«They don’t know what to do. Europe doesn’t know what to do.”
US President Donald Trump
And Trump continued: Europe’s leading politicians did not stop the disintegration of the old continent because they “absolutely wanted to be politically correct.” «They don’t know what to do. “Europe doesn’t know what to do” – although the US President, who was born in 1946, probably means Western Europe, the core of the European Union, when he uses the term Europe.
This criticism of Trump refers primarily to European immigration policy, which is “a disaster”. The White House is of the opinion that the European Union is too generous with migrants – this can also be read in the new US security strategy published last Thursday.
Trump said: Europe is “one of the greatest places in the world, and they just allow people to come in uncontrolled, without any control, without any scrutiny.” He therefore believes that Europe should deport all people who entered the country without valid documents.
«I love Sweden. I love the people of Sweden. But they’ve gone from being a virtually crime-free country to a country that now has a lot of crime.”
US President Donald Trump
Trump illustrated these theses using the example of two European nations. This is what he said about Sweden: “I love Sweden. I love the people of Sweden. But they’ve gone from being a virtually crime-free country to a country that now has a lot of crime.” (For comparison: a total of 92 people were murdered in Sweden in 2024; in the American capital Washington alone, 187 people died a violent death last year.)
Donald Trump kisses Angela Merkel at the G7 summit 2019Image: EPA
And about Germany, the homeland of his ancestors, the American president said: “Look at Germany. Germany was effectively crime-free, and Angela made two big mistakes: migration and energy. And those were two real feasts for the eyes.”
Criticism of conditions in London and Paris
These are obviously not statements from Trump that rely on new data, as Angela Merkel left the Federal Chancellery in Berlin more than four years ago. But they show what makes the American president tick. Once he has formed an opinion on a topic – which often happens when he is watching television or talking to a close advisor – he is not impressed by reality.
Trump traveled to Great Britain three months ago, where he was also met by King Charles III during a state visit. was received. The American president, a member of the Republican Party, was visibly delighted by the pomp and pageantry in the capital of the British Empire.
Trump state visit to Great Britain.Image: keystone
And yet he now said in an interview with “Politico”: “I hate what London has become.” Sadiq Khan, the mayor of the metropolis of millions, is to blame for this. In the eyes of the American, he has “a completely different ideology” than he should actually have. Khan was a disaster, said Trump. And the son of migrants from Pakistan was only elected “because so many people have moved here.”
«I hate what Paris has become. I hate to see that.”
US President Donald Trump
Trump doesn’t like Paris anymore either. Last December, when he took part in the ceremonial reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, he was still enthusiastic about the atmosphere in the French capital. Now he said: “I hate what Paris has become. I hate to see that.”
“The Europeans should do something about it”
When asked what Europe had to do to stop this development, Trump said: “All I want to see is a strong Europe.” He is not only considered “a very smart person” and has “a tremendous amount of knowledge”; As American President, he also sees reports that would never be made public.
And that’s why he knows that Europe, “as we know it,” is in danger. “Europe could become a completely different place,” said Trump. “And I think the Europeans should do something about it.” The new security strategy talks about “patriotic parties” and their positive influence on the mood in Europe.
“All I want to see is a strong Europe.”
US President Donald Trump
It is fitting that Trump only mentioned one incumbent head of state and government of the European Union by name: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose re-election he supports. (aargauerzeitung.ch/val)