Issuing a frank warning to European countries in Scotland on Saturday, US President Donald Trump said that rampant immigration is inflicting irreparable harm on the continent.
Addressing journalists after alighting from Air Force One, Trump asked Europe to act quickly to combat what he described as a "horrible invasion."
"On immigration, you better get your act together. You're not going to have Europe anymore. You got to get your act together," Trump stated, reiterating his opinion that large numbers of European nations are being overrun by mass migration.
He went on to add that: You need to put a stop to the terrible invasion that is taking place to Europe, many of the countries in Europe," continuing that some of the leaders who have made strong moves against immigration have not gotten the credit they should.
"I can name them right now, but I'm going to embarrass other ones. This immigration is killing Europe," he stated.
The president, whose mother Mary Anne MacLeod and father Fred immigrated to the U.S. from Europe, has had a long history of hardline immigration policies. His remarks in Scotland are an extension of that policy, which has generated both applause and outrage throughout the United States.
Addressing the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump boasted about recent enforcement actions under his administration.
"As you know, last month, we had no one coming into our country. We deported lots of bad people who made it there," he said, citing heightened deportations and enhanced border security efforts.
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has initiated what he says will be the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history. Thousands of unauthorized immigrants have already been deported under his new immigration push, which has inspired massive demonstrations across key American cities.
Europe hosted approximately 87 million overseas migrants in 2020, as the United Nations reported, making it one of the global giants of migration destinations.
During his European trip, Trump is scheduled to travel to both of his Scottish golf clubs. He reaffirmed future meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Trump had termed his meeting with Starmer as a congratulatory one, highlighting a trade agreement that has already been settled. "It's a great deal for both," he said.
The president will spend the weekend at his Turnberry golf resort on Scotland's west coast. On Monday, he'll journey to Aberdeen to open a second course at his second property—devoted to his deceased mother, born on a Scottish island before immigrating to the United States.
Besides, Trump also plans to meet with Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who openly endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris during the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
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