'Strange person, needs anger management': Trump mocks Greta Thunberg’s 'kidnapped' claim

Trump had mocked Thunberg in 2019 as “a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future,” prompting Thunberg to adopt the phrase in her social media bio in a widely noted retort. (File photo: UN//2019)

U.S. President Donald Trump, late Monday evening, reignited his long-running feud with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, dismissing her recent claim of being "kidnapped" by Israeli forces as exaggerated and recommending she take “anger management” classes.

Thunberg was one of 12 international activists aboard the Madleen, a humanitarian aid vessel intercepted by the Israeli military in international waters in the wee hours of Monday. The boat, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was en route to Gaza, carrying essential supplies including food, medical items, and hygiene products.

Gaza has been under a naval blockade and faces a severe humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning of famine-level conditions following nearly two years of conflict.

In a pre-recorded video released by the FFC, Thunberg said, “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupation forces.” She urged supporters to pressure the Swedish government for her and the other activists' release.

Following her post, the Israeli Foreign Ministry quickly took to social media, sharing an image of Thunberg on microblogging site X, revealing she was "safe and in good spirits" and en route to Israel. Further, it dismissed the activists' claims, calling the intercepted vessel a “selfie yacht” and assuring that all passengers were unharmed and provided with food and water.

Later the same day, when asked about Thunberg’s claims during an interaction with the press, Trump said, “She is a strange person. She is a young, angry person, I don't know if it's real anger; it's hard to believe. She's certainly different. I think she has to go to an anger management class, that's my primary recommendation for her.”

The US President further remarked sarcastically, “I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg.”

Other activists aboard the Madleen included individuals from France, Spain, Denmark, Turkey, Germany, and Brazil. The ship departed from Sicily on June 1 to draw attention to the blockade's impact on Gaza's civilians.

The incident draws parallels with the 2010 raid on the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish aid ship also part of a Gaza-bound flotilla, in which 10 civilians were killed by Israeli commandos.

In a statement Sunday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated the country’s stance, saying the blockade remains essential to prevent arms smuggling by Palestinian militants.

Notably, the US President's later remark marks a renewed flashpoint in the Trump-Thunberg rivalry, which kicked off in 2019 after the climate activist's scathing speech at the UN.

Trump had mocked her as “a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future,” prompting Thunberg to adopt the phrase in her social media bio in a widely noted retort.