Donald Trump’s comments during a rally in Florida on Saturday night that seemed to suggest a non-existent terrorist attack had taken place in Sweden have pitted the Scandinavian nation against some fervent supporters of the US president.
Defending his plans to ban refugees and travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, Trump told a crowd in Melbourne: “You look at what’s happening in Germany, you look at what’s happening last night in Sweden.” No terrorist attack or major crime took place in Sweden on Friday night.
While the Swedes are still scratching their heads over Trump’s comments, and the former prime minister Carl Bildt wonders on Twitter what the president had been smoking, some Trump supporters believe the media is “intent on covering up what migrants have done to Sweden”.
Oh my god, Trump supporters are now convinced that there actually WAS an attack in Sweden, but that the media is covering it up. JFC. pic.twitter.com/4ITa9PvBoi
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) February 19, 2017
Trump has very cleverly got the world talking about the problems in Sweden. The big cover up not now going to work.
— Anthea Bailey (@anthea_bailey) February 19, 2017
#swedenincident
— Lance 🏳️🌈 (@LanceStrasser) February 19, 2017
Liberals desperately trying to cover up the dark reality Trump referred to in Sweden pic.twitter.com/d6t1A14g5e
Trump on Sunday clarified his comments, saying they related to “immigrants & Sweden” and were based on a Fox News report.
However, there is little evidence that the nation is suffering under a migrant-led crime wave. In fact, the most pressing issue in Sweden at the moment is apparently who will become the nation’s Eurovision entrant.
Instead of reeling from a terror attack, tonight, Swedes are in the midst of selecting their next #Eurovision entry. #Resist #Melfest https://t.co/2xWGSAh3hC
— Yanick Saila-Ngita (@wunderkind87) February 19, 2017
There was no terror attack #LastNightInSweden. However there was a glitter explosion on #melfest. No death but 80% increase in fabulousness.
— Dan Johansson (@JohanssonDPJ) February 19, 2017
Margot Wallström, the Swedish foreign minister, tweeted an extract of the country’s foreign policy declaration for 2017 which talks about Oxford Dictionaries declaring the term “post-truth” its international word of the year.
The Swedes were not alone in their confusion and bemusement - Twitter spawned the hashtags #IStandWithSweden and #jesuisIKEA.
What happened in Sweden Friday night? Did they catch the Bowling Green Massacre perpetrators?
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 19, 2017
Thoughts are with everyone in Sweden at this difficult time.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 19, 2017
After the terrible events #lastnightinSweden , IKEA have sold out of this: pic.twitter.com/Bs1XI7ffKG
— Jeanna Skinner (@JeannaLStars) February 19, 2017
Others, including the Swedish embassy in Washington, wondered if the US president should look elsewhere for his information on the state of foreign nations.
'He's tweeting that he's using Fox News for international intel. I can't do this assignment anymore, Carl. At least Nixon was smart.' pic.twitter.com/8aNlnFbMMe
— Tom Reagan's Hat (@andymannion777) February 19, 2017
We look forward to informing the US administration about Swedish immigration and integration policies. https://t.co/x5G3euOWRh
— Embassy of Sweden US (@SwedeninUSA) February 19, 2017
