Europe is ‘decaying’ group of nations led by ‘weak’ people, Trump says as he takes aim at European migration
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised the EU and the European leaders in an interview with Politico, published just now, dismissing Europe as a “decaying” group of nations led by “weak” people.
Speaking about European leaders, he said “I think they are weak,” and blamed them for being “politically correct.”
“I think they don’t know what to do,” he added. “Europe doesn’t know what to do.”
He praised Hungary and Poland for their track record on migration, but said that more broadly he was concerned about Europe as “they are allowing people to come in, unchecked, unvetted.”
Despite the pushback from Europe, Trump also reiterated that he would be prepared to support European leaders in domestic elections saying “I’ve endorsed people, but I’ve endorsed people that a lot of Europeans don’t like. I’ve endorsed Viktor Orbán.”
What Orbán “has really gotten right is the immigration because he allows nobody in his country and Poland has done a very good job in that respect, too, but most European nations, they’re they’re decaying,” he said.
Trump also said warned that Europe would also get “much weaker” as a result of migration, “because the people coming in have a totally different ideology.”
He pointedly attacked his longstanding political enemy, London mayor Sadiq Khan, saying he is “a disaster,” adding: “I hate what’s happened to London, and I hate what’s happened to Paris.”
“Europe, they want to be politically correct, and it makes them weak. That’s what makes them weak,” he said.
Trump also added that European countries “should get the people out that came into the country illegally.”
Trump also said he didn’t have much hopes about European involvement in the Ukraine peace talks, as “they talk, but they don’t produce, and the war just keeps going on and on.”
Key events
-
Europe needs to continue supporting Ukraine and putting pressure on Russia, Irish, EU leaders say
-
Zelenskyy about to meet Italy’s Meloni, who balances her loyalties between EU and US
-
Lithuania declares state of emergency over balloons from Belarus
-
Trump’s latest attack on European leaders makes already awkward relationship even worse — snap analysis
-
Europe’s migration policy could make some countries ‘not viable,’ Trump claims
-
‘They talk too much, but they don’t produce,’ Trump says of Europe’s thinking on Ukraine
-
‘He’s going to have to … start accepting things,’ Trump says on Zelenskyy
-
‘No question’ Russia in stronger position in Ukraine peace talks, Trump says
-
‘It’s horrible what’s happening to Europe,’ Trump says as he singles out Sweden and Germany on migration
-
Europe is ‘decaying’ group of nations led by ‘weak’ people, Trump says as he takes aim at European migration
-
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy thanks Pope Leo for support, repeats invitation to visit Ukraine
-
EU’s Kallas ‘sad’ no agreement was reached with UK on defence fund participation
-
EU foreign policy chief warns against ‘walking into Russian traps’ on Ukraine peace talks
-
Parts of US national security strategy ‘unacceptable’ from European perspective, Germany’s Merz says
-
US anti-EU statements amount to ‘provocation’ as criticism should be aimed at ‘Russia perhaps,’ foreign policy chief says
-
Zelenskyy meets Pope Leo to discuss war, prisoners, return of children
-
Zelenskyy to meet with Pope Leo, Italy’s Meloni as peace talks continue
-
Morning opening: Welcome back Mr Babiš
Europe needs to continue supporting Ukraine and putting pressure on Russia, Irish, EU leaders say
Over in Dublin, Irish prime minister Micheál Martin is now speaking at a press conference alongside the European Council’s president, António Costa.
He talks about “the need to continue and step up our support for Ukraine, political, military and financial,” as the talks continue with hopes of securing “a just and lasting peace as soon as possible.”
He blames Russia for continuing attacks on Ukraine and the recent violation of EU airspace, calling them “reckless” and “threatening European security and regional stability.” “Threat from Russia is real and impacts all EU member states,” he says.
Martin also pointedly speaks about the need to “increase pressure on Russia until it ends its injustifiable war,” calling for urgent agreement on further financing for Ukraine, including the use of immobilised Russian assets.
He also clearly backs Ukraine’s ambitions to join the EU, which is important in the context of Ireland’s upcoming EU presidency in the second half of 2026.
Responding, Costa picks up on that theme as he says that Ireland is seen “as a pro European country and an honest broker, and that will be very useful for the success of your presidency.”
But he says that “at a time of rising global tensions, it’s never been more crucial to guarantee Europe’s security,” stressing the bloc continues “working on all fronts to stop Russia’s war of aggression.”
Costa also talks about the importance of next week’s European Council summit expected to discuss further support for Ukraine.
“Europe will remain Ukraine’s strongest and most reliable partner, and this is what the European Council will deliver next week,” he says.
Zelenskyy about to meet Italy’s Meloni, who balances her loyalties between EU and US
Angela Giuffrida
in Rome
We are expecting Ukraine’s Zelenskyy to meet with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni shortly, one of the European leaders that seem to still be in Trump’s good books.
Meloni will endeavour to balance her loyalties between the EU and Washington, and while Italy is preparing aid to bolster Ukraine’s energy network, she may urge Zelenskyy to accept territorial concessions to end the war, according to reports in the Italian press. Italy has also so far deemed it risky to use frozen Russian assets to fund reconstruction in Ukraine.
Writing in Corriere della Sera, Massimo Franco said the Italian government will strive to avoid appearing to be an outsider in the peace talks after its absence in London, while asserting its autonomy.
Lithuania declares state of emergency over balloons from Belarus
Meanwhile, Lithuania has declared a state of emergency and asked parliament to authorise military support for police and border guards after a wave of smuggler balloons from Belarus repeatedly disrupted air traffic in recent months, Reuters reported.
Vilnius airport has been closed several times due to the weather balloons, which Lithuania says are sent by smugglers transporting cigarettes and constitute a “hybrid attack” by Belarus, a close ally of Russia.
“The state of emergency is announced not only due to civil aviation disruptions but also due to interests of national security,” interior minister Vladislav Kondratovič told a government meeting.
The Lithuanian government asked parliament to grant the military powers to act in concert with police, border guards and security forces during the state of emergency, as well as on its own, Kondratovic said.
The emergency measures will last until the government calls them off.
Belarus has denied responsibility for the balloons and accused Lithuania of provocations, including sending a drone to drop “extremist material“, which Lithuania denies, Reuters noted.
Trump’s latest attack on European leaders makes already awkward relationship even worse — snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
These comments will do nothing to reassure European leaders concerned about the anti-EU outbursts over the weekend coming from the American right.
Sure, they are not new new, and we have known for some time that that’s what Trump thinks.
But for him to repeat all these lines with some pride as he gets named by Politico as ‘the most powerful person shaping Europe’ at the same time as European leaders want – or, more accurately, really need – to stay close to him on Ukraine … it makes it all very complicated for everyone involved.
Europe’s migration policy could make some countries ‘not viable,’ Trump claims
In another scathing passage on Europe, Trump claimed that “if it keeps going the way it’s going, Europe will not be in my opinion, many of those countries will not be viable countries any longer.”
“Their immigration policy is a disaster. What they’re doing with immigration is a disaster. We had a disaster coming, but I was able to stop it.”
He repeatedly says Europe accepts too much migrants from around the world, but “they want to be politically correct – which, actually, I think is the opposite of political correct – and they don’t want to send them back to where they came from.”
‘They talk too much, but they don’t produce,’ Trump says of Europe’s thinking on Ukraine
Asked about Europe’s role in the Ukraine peace talks, Trump says that if Europe wants to keep supporting Ukraine until they can win this war, “they should support it.”
He said:
“Europe is… I’m friendly with all of them. I mean, I like all of them, I have no real enemy. I’ve had a couple that I didn’t like over the years, [but] I actually like the current crew.
I like them a lot, but they and I know them very well. I know them really well. Some are friends. Some are okay. I know the good leaders. I know the bad leaders. I know the smart ones. I know the stupid ones. You got some real stupid ones too.
But they’re not doing a good job, Europe is not doing a good job in many ways. They’re not doing a good job. They talk too much. And they’re not producing. We are talking about Ukraine: they talk, but they don’t produce, and the war just keeps going on.”
‘He’s going to have to … start accepting things,’ Trump says on Zelenskyy
Asked if there’s a limit to his patience on Ukraine and Zelenskyy, Trump said:
“Well, he’s going to have to get on the ball and start accepting things, you know, when you’re losing, and he is losing.”
‘No question’ Russia in stronger position in Ukraine peace talks, Trump says
In his Politico interview, Trump also said that there was “no question” that Russia was in a stronger negotiating position in talks over ending the Ukraine war.
“There can be no question about it. It’s Russia. It’s a much bigger country. It’s a war that should have never happened,” he said.
Trump also doubled down on his criticism of Zelenskyy saying that “he’s got to read the proposal,” adding that “maybe he has read it over the night, it would be nice if he’d read it.”
“His people loved the proposal. They really liked it. His lieutenants his top people they liked it but they said he hasn’t read it yet. I think he should find time to read it.”
He also picked up a Russian attack line and criticised Zelenskyy for not holding elections in Ukraine during the war, saying:
“They’re using war not to hold an election, but I would think the Ukrainian people would should have that choice, and maybe Zelensky would win. I don’t know who would win, but they haven’t had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy any more.”
Jakub Krupa
Remember that comment from Germany’s Merz earlier today, saying that he sees the US administration’s tough line on Europe as the natural follow-up to JD Vance’s Munich speech in February (11:43)?
These latest Trump comments exactly confirm his concerns and will no doubt spark further worry among EU leaders about the rapidly worsening state of their relationship with the US.
‘It’s horrible what’s happening to Europe,’ Trump says as he singles out Sweden and Germany on migration
In another part of the Politico interview, Trump said:
“Here’s my approach to Europe. I want to see a strong Europe.
When they allow millions of people to pour into their countries, many of these people are committing tremendous crimes.
And again, look at Sweden. I’m not knocking Sweden. I love Sweden. I love the people of Sweden. But they go from a crime free country to a country that has a lot of crime.
Now look at Germany. Germany was crime free and Angela made two big mistakes, immigration, and energy, but those two are beauties.”
Trump also warned that Russia’s Vladimir Putin wants to see “weak” Europe and “he is getting that” under the current trends.
“I see what’s happening, I get reports that you will never see. And I think it’s horrible, what’s happening to Europe.
I think it’s endangering Europe as we know it, Europe could be a whole different place, and I think the European people should do something about it.”
Europe is ‘decaying’ group of nations led by ‘weak’ people, Trump says as he takes aim at European migration
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised the EU and the European leaders in an interview with Politico, published just now, dismissing Europe as a “decaying” group of nations led by “weak” people.
Speaking about European leaders, he said “I think they are weak,” and blamed them for being “politically correct.”
“I think they don’t know what to do,” he added. “Europe doesn’t know what to do.”
He praised Hungary and Poland for their track record on migration, but said that more broadly he was concerned about Europe as “they are allowing people to come in, unchecked, unvetted.”
Despite the pushback from Europe, Trump also reiterated that he would be prepared to support European leaders in domestic elections saying “I’ve endorsed people, but I’ve endorsed people that a lot of Europeans don’t like. I’ve endorsed Viktor Orbán.”
What Orbán “has really gotten right is the immigration because he allows nobody in his country and Poland has done a very good job in that respect, too, but most European nations, they’re they’re decaying,” he said.
Trump also said warned that Europe would also get “much weaker” as a result of migration, “because the people coming in have a totally different ideology.”
He pointedly attacked his longstanding political enemy, London mayor Sadiq Khan, saying he is “a disaster,” adding: “I hate what’s happened to London, and I hate what’s happened to Paris.”
“Europe, they want to be politically correct, and it makes them weak. That’s what makes them weak,” he said.
Trump also added that European countries “should get the people out that came into the country illegally.”
Trump also said he didn’t have much hopes about European involvement in the Ukraine peace talks, as “they talk, but they don’t produce, and the war just keeps going on and on.”
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy thanks Pope Leo for support, repeats invitation to visit Ukraine
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked Pope Leo for “his constant prayers for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people, as well as for his calls for a just peace.”
“I informed the pope about diplomatic efforts with the United States to achieve peace. We discussed further actions and the Vatican’s mediation aimed at returning our children abducted by Russia,” he said.
Zelenskyy also reiterated his invitation for Pope Leo to visit Ukraine.
EU’s Kallas ‘sad’ no agreement was reached with UK on defence fund participation
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also said she was “sad” that the EU could not reach an agreement with the UK on the SAFE defence fund.
Asked about the development, Kallas said:
“I was not part of the negotiations, and I must say, I was also quite sad that [we] didn’t reach an agreement.
But again … the UK can participate also via the bilateral agreements with the member states, who are applying together with them. So 35% of those agreements can also come from others outside the European Union. So they are definitely not out of the defence cooperation.”