Trump’s terror comment irks Hollande
DOUBLES DOWN US President paints Europe as militantinfested hellscape, prompts authorities, Clooney to hit back
US President Donald Trump intensified his verbal attacks on Sweden, France and Germany on Friday, painting swaths of Europe as a militant-infested hellscape, prompting French President Francois Hollande to respond.
Firing up victory-drunk conservatives at a rally outside Washington, Trump trashed long-time allies as he sought to justify his controversial crackdown on immigrants.
Trump repeated his criticism of Europe’s handling of attacks by Islamist militants, saying a friend “Jim” no longer wanted to take his family to Paris.
“Take a look at what’s happening in Sweden. Take a look at what’s happening in Germany. Take a look at what’s happened in France. Take a look at Nice and Paris,” he said.
Hollande fired back on Saturday, saying Trump should show support for allies. “There is terrorism and we must fight it together. I think it is never good to show the smallest defiance toward an allied country. I wouldn’t do it with the US and I’m urging the US President not to do it with France,” he said.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo had earlier tweeted that American tourist reservations are up 30% in 2017 so far compared to last year.
French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault offered his own proof that Americans like not just Paris but all of France: “3.5 million Americans visited France in 2016,” he tweeted. “They will always be welcome.”
George Clooney used the red carpet to speak up for Paris as well, saying, “Yes, no one wants to go to Paris anymore because it’s horrible here, apparently .... We have some things to work on in the United States.”
On Thursday, Sweden sought to address his remarks, also made earlier about the country, publishing “facts” to correct “simplistic” and “inaccurate information”. The foreign ministry on its website addressed claims about violence, rape, alleged “no-go zones”, and social “collapse” among other things.
On terrorism, it said the sole attempted terror attack on Swedish soil took place in December 2010.