Upon arriving in Scotland on Friday, President Donald Trump quickly criticized European leaders regarding the issue of mass immigration. He warned that this ongoing crisis is “destroying” the continent and described it as a “terrible invasion.”
Trump has kept his campaign promise by successfully tightening the U.S. southern border with Mexico. Meanwhile, Europe, and particularly the U.K., continue to face challenges from the crisis as numerous boats filled with unauthorized migrants keep arriving daily from France.
“Regarding immigration, you need to get organized, or Europe as you know it will be gone,” Trump stated to journalists shortly after his arrival at Prestwick airport on Friday evening.
President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday and wasted little time lashing out at European leaders over mass immigration, warning that the crisis is “killing” the continent and calling it a “horrible invasion.” Secretary of State for Scotland (R) and Warren Stephens, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom (C) stand nearby as he arrives at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on July 25, 2025, in Prestwick, Scotland. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“Many countries in Europe, some people, some leaders have not let it happen. And they’re not getting the proper credit. They should. I could name them to you right now, but I’m not going to embarrass the other ones. But stop this. Immigration is killing Europe.”
The U.K. saw a major surge in 2022 and 2023 when small boat crossings reached over 44,000 per year, according to government figures.
Nearly 22,500 people have arrived in the U.K. so far this year after crossing the English Channel, up 57% on the same point last year.
Net migration to the UK was 431,000 last year, down almost 50% from 2023.
Hungary and Poland are two of the most prominent European countries to take hardline stances against immigration, particularly irregular migration and asylum seekers. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is a Trump ally.
Trump is in the U.K. for a five-day trip where he will check in with his golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeen, as well as with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer and head of the Scottish government, First Minister John Swinney.
The president is expected to discuss the latest U.S.-U.K. trade agreement, a deal dubbed the “Economic Prosperity Deal” last month, which agreed to slash tariffs. The U.K. is one of the few countries with which the U.S. has advanced its trade agreements under relatively amicable terms.
A small boat heads off into the English Channel after picking up migrants at sunrise on July 2 in Gravelines, France. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
“I like your prime minister. He’s slightly more liberal than I am, as you’ve probably heard. But he’s a good man, he got a trade deal done,” Trump told reporters. “And they’ve been working on this deal for 12 years. He got it done. It’s a good deal. It’s a good deal for the U.K.”
Trump added that he would be meeting Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission about securing a trade deal with Europe.
“We’re meeting with the European Union. And that would be actually the biggest deal of them all if we make it,” Trump said.
