Trump warns Europe: 'When you take in Third World criminals, you become a Third World country'
President Trump posted on Truth Social that Europe is learning that accepting 'Third World criminals' turns it into a 'Third World country,' as he escalates rhetoric against allies over immigration, the Iran war, and trade.
Trump's Truth Social post
On Saturday, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to criticize European immigration policies, writing that "Europe learns that when you receive criminals from the Third World, you become a Third World country. It happens quickly, in an instant. I was elected just in time!!!" The post, published on the 250th anniversary of US independence, echoed his long-standing anti-immigration stance, which has hardened since his return to power in 2025. The night before, at Mount Rushmore, he had warned about "newcomers who do not share the values" of the United States.
Europe learns that when you receive criminals from the Third World, you become a Third World country. It happens quickly, in an instant. I was elected just in time!!!
Escalating tensions with European allies
The remarks are the latest in a series of attacks on European nations. Trump and his administration have repeatedly criticized their immigration and environmental policies, and recently labeled them "terrible" partners for not supporting the US in the war with Iran. In recent months, his harshest words targeted Spain, Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom for refusing logistical support for reopening the Strait of Hormuz or access to military bases during the conflict with Tehran.
- Trump warns at Mount Rushmore about newcomers not sharing US values
- Trump posts on Truth Social that Europe becomes 'Third World' by accepting migrants
- Pope Leon praises US tradition of welcoming migrants in implicit rebuke to Trump
- NATO summit begins in Turkey; Trump to attend 'only out of respect' for Erdogan
NATO and trade threats
Trump also questioned NATO's utility and burden-sharing, describing the EU as a "paper tiger" and suggesting he is seriously considering a US withdrawal from the alliance, though that would require Congressional approval. He is set to attend the NATO summit in Turkey next week, stating he will be present "only out of respect" for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Additionally, he threatened 100% tariffs on European imports if the European Parliament's proposal for a common tax on digital multinationals like Google, Apple, Meta, and Amazon succeeds.
Pope Leon's implicit rebuke
On the same day, Pope Leon, the first American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, used his first major speech to his native country to praise the US tradition of welcoming migrants. He urged Americans to live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, noting that the word "America" had become a "synonym for freedom" worldwide because of how the country received migrants. The speech was widely seen as an implicit rebuke to Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric.
