US President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with America’s long-standing European allies, delivering one of his harshest critiques yet in a newly published interview with Politico.
Speaking on Monday, Trump described Europe as “weak” and “decaying,” accusing the continent of mismanaging immigration and failing to act decisively on the war in Ukraine. His remarks revive far-right narratives about Europe’s supposed decline — themes he has amplified throughout his political career.
Trump argued that Europe’s immigration policies have become a “disaster,” claiming that leaders care more about political correctness than border enforcement.
“They’re coming in from all parts of the world,” he said. “But they want to be politically correct, and they don’t want to send them back to where they came from.”
His comments come just days after his administration’s new national security strategy raised concerns in Brussels by stating that Washington would encourage “resistance” within the EU to liberal migration policies.
When asked whether European nations could remain strong US allies without aligning with his administration’s stance, Trump said the answer “depends,” adding: “I think they’re weak, but they also want to be so politically correct.”
He went on to single out Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Sweden as nations he believes are being “destroyed” by migration. Trump also renewed his long-running feud with London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, whom he described as “horrible, vicious, disgusting.”
The president dismissed concerns that the Kremlin had publicly welcomed Washington’s new security strategy, which Moscow said mirrors its own worldview.
“I think he [Putin] would like to see a weak Europe, and to be honest with you, he’s getting that. That has nothing to do with me,” Trump insisted.
Trump further criticized Europe’s efforts in addressing the Russia-Ukraine war, accusing European governments of lacking tangible contributions.
“They talk but they don’t produce,” he said. “And the war just keeps going on and on.”
The president’s remarks are likely to deepen existing strains between Washington and European capitals as global security challenges continue to evolve.
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