Trump says immigration is 'killing Europe' during Scotland visit

Published on 25/07/2025 – 22:44 GMT+2
•Updated
26/07/2025 – 0:57 GMT+2

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, “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.

His words echoed the “Great Replacement” theory often posed by the far right, according to which the population of Europe was set to be replaced by immigrants from countries in Africa or elsewhere.

The US president is set to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during his visit, as well as UK 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 would impose 30% tariffs on EU imports.

Meanwhile, EU member states approved a list 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 aim 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.”

Trump is a well-known climate change denier, often challenging views and scientific opinions alike that green sources of energy can offset the carbon footprint of major world economies, which has contributed to the planet’s general warming, especially in recent times.

There is no scientific evidence that wind energy can negatively affect the flora or fauna of a country.

The Trump Organisation, whose assets are currently in a trust run by his 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.