Upon his arrival in Scotland for a five-day trip, US President Donald Trump declared that immigration is “killing Europe”.
Responding to a question from a reporter on migration, he said that “on immigration, you’d better to get your act together. You’re not going to have Europe anymore.”
He continued to say that “You’ve got to stop this horrible invasion that’s happening to Europe. Some people, some leaders have not let it happen. They’re not getting the proper credit.” He did not name the leaders he had in mind, however, in order not to “embarrass” the others.
The US President is set to meet with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during his visit, as well as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Von der Leyen had said they would “discuss translatlantic relations”, in a week when negotiations have intensified ahead of 1 August, a deadline set by Trump from when he said will impose 30% tariffs on EU imports. EU member states meanwhile approved a llist of countermeasures of their own if no deal is reached.
For his part, Trump said on Friday that reaching a deal with the EU on trade would be “the biggest deal of them all if we make it.”
‘Stop the windmills’
The US president also took the opportunity to take aim at wind energy, saying Europe should “stop the windmills, you’re ruining your countries… ruining your beautiful fields and valleys, and killing your birds.”
Trump has on multiple occasions expressed an intense dislike for wind turbines, recently saying ““I don’t want windmills destroying our place.”
The Trump Organisation, whose assets are currently in a trust run by is children, was ordered to cover the Scottish government’s legal costs after the golf course it owns in Aberdeenshire unsuccessfully sued over the construction of a nearby wind farm, arguing in part that it hurt golfers’ views.
While in Scotland, Trump will visit a golf course in Aberdeenshire ahead of its opening on 13 August, and another near Turnberry. His family owns both golf courses.
