Trump calls Europe ‘decaying’ and weak on migration

Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump sharply escalated his criticism of Europe on Tuesday, branding the continent “decaying” and “weak” on both immigration and Ukraine in an interview with Politico.

Speaking to Politico, Trump accused European governments of failing to manage migration and claimed their leaders were undermining the continent’s stability. “Most European nations, they’re decaying,” he said, arguing that migration policies were a “disaster” and driven by leaders who “want to be politically correct.” He added that there were “some real stupid ones” among Europe’s top officials.

The comments come days after his administration unveiled a new national security strategy that drew heavy backlash in Europe for echoing far-right narratives about cultural decline and “civilizational erasure.” A French minister, Alice Rufo, said Tuesday that the US strategy amounted to an “extremely brutal clarification of the ideological stance of the United States.”

Trump also renewed pressure on Ukraine, suggesting President Volodymyr Zelensky should move ahead with elections despite the ongoing Russian invasion. He told Politico that Moscow held the “upper hand,” and accused Kyiv of using wartime conditions to avoid voting.

“I think it's an important time to hold an election. They’re using war not to hold an election. It gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” Trump said.

Ukraine’s presidential vote, originally set for March 2024, has been delayed under martial law since Russia’s full-scale assault began in 2022. Zelensky, responding Tuesday, said he was “ready for the elections” if security conditions allow.

Trump also took aim at Zelensky personally, repeating his claim that the Ukrainian leader had not read Washington’s proposal for ending the war. “It would be nice if he would read it. You know, a lot of people are dying,” he said.

Negotiators from the US held talks in Moscow and later with Ukrainian officials last week. However, there has not been any breakthrough as of now. Meanwhile, Zelensky said Kyiv would send its updated response to Washington on Wednesday.

The former president’s criticism extended to European governments’ handling of the conflict. “They talk but they don’t produce. And the war just keeps going on and on,” he said. He also highlighted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s joking remark from June, saying, “NATO calls me daddy.”

European governments have been working to keep Trump engaged on Ukraine since his return to office in January, amid anxiety that US pressure could force Kyiv into territorial concessions. Washington’s draft plan, in its earlier form, proposed Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region, including areas not currently occupied by Russian forces, in exchange for limited security guarantees.

Trump also returned to one of his longstanding targets, lashing out at London mayor Sadiq Khan, whom he called “horrible, vicious, disgusting.” Khan dismissed the attack, telling Politico that Trump was “obsessed” with him and claiming Americans were “flocking” to London.

As Europe works to digest the US security strategy and Trump’s latest remarks, alarm is growing over what some see as the reappearance of far-right rhetoric at the highest levels of Washington. Experts have flagged similarities between parts of the document and ideas associated with the “great replacement theory” promoted by extremist groups.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin offered an unexpectedly positive reaction, saying the US strategy aligned with Russia’s worldview.