Trump says migrant rape gangs, drug lords greater threat than Putin: 'Don’t end up like Europe!'

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump on Monday said that US should spend less time worrying about Russia's Vladimir Putin and be more concerned about "migrant rape gangs, drug lords, murderers, and people from mental institutions entering America".

"We should spend less time worrying about Putin, and more time worrying about migrant rape gangs, drug lords, murderers, and people from mental institutions entering our Country - So that we don’t end up like Europe!" he posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

Trump and his close aides have often criticised European nations for their liberal immigration policy, often claiming that it has led to a marked increase in crime in the continent.

Last month, US Vice President JD Vance urged Europe to "change course" on immigration.

Trump's remarks come after European leaders rallied behind Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the Ukraine President's disastrous meeting with Trump at White House which turned into a shouting match.

At a summit in London just two days after Zelenskiy clashed with Trump and cut short a visit to Washington, European leaders offered a strong show of support to the Ukrainian president and promised to do more to help his nation.

European leaders agreed they must spend more on defence to show Trump the continent can protect itself, and the European Commission chief suggested the bloc could ease rules that limit debt levels.

Earlier, Zelenskyy told reporters that Ukraine would not cede any territory to Russia as part of a peace agreement and said he was still willing to sign a minerals deal with the United States.

Europe is scrambling to ensure that Kyiv is not squeezed out of any talks after the Oval Office clash raised fears that the US could pull support for Ukraine and impose a peace plan negotiated with Russia.