Trump confronts media over criticism of Sweden comment

NTD Staff
By NTD Staff
February 20, 2017US News
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President Donald Trump took to twitter on Monday (February 20) to criticize the media and its handling of his comments around Sweden.

“Give the public a break – The FAKE NEWS media is trying to say that large scale immigration in Sweden is working out just beautifully. NOT!” he said.

Trump, who in his first weeks in office has tried to tighten U.S. borders sharply for national security reasons, told a rally on Saturday that Sweden was having serious problems with immigrants.

“You look at what’s happening last night in Sweden,” Trump said. “Sweden. Who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. They’re having problems like they never thought possible.”

Many misunderstood Trump’s comment as referring to a terrorist incident the night before in Sweden. Trump was actually referring to a Fox news story that had aired the night before about immigrants in Sweden.

“My statement as to what’s happening in Sweden was in reference to a story that was broadcast on @FoxNews concerning immigrants & Sweden,” Trump said in a tweet on Sunday.

Fox News, a U.S. channel that has been cited favorably by Trump, ran a report Friday about alleged migrant-related crime problems in the country.

A White House spokeswoman told reporters on Sunday that Trump had been referring generally to rising crime, not a specific incident in the Scandinavian country.

Trump’s comment confounded Stockholm. “We are trying to get clarity,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Catarina Axelsson said.

Sweden’s embassy in the United States repeated Trump’s tweet about having seen the Fox report, and added, “We look forward to informing the U.S. administration about Swedish immigration and integration policies.”

Trump has been widely criticized for making assertions with little or no supporting evidence.

Monday marked President’s Day, a federal holiday, in the United States. Trump also used twitter to mark the holiday.

“HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY – MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

 

(REUTERS, NTD Staff)

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