Donald Trump has doubled down on his controversial comments that an “invasion” of migrants is “ruining” Europe.
The US President is on a four-day trip to UK to visit his Scottish golf courses and meet with the Prime Minister to discuss pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The talks are also expected to cover the US-UK trade deal, Iran and the war in Ukraine.
But Trump sparked controversy when he arrived in Scotland on Friday by saying there was a “horrible invasion” of migrants taking place in Europe.
Speaking to reporters as Sir Keir Starmer arrived at Turnberry on Monday, Mr Trump repeated the stance.
He said: “Europe is going to is a much different place than it was just five years ago, 10 years ago.
"They've got to get their act together. If they don't, you're not going to have Europe anymore, as you know it, and you can't do that. This is a magnificent part of the world, and you cannot ruin it.
"You cannot let people come in here illegally. And what happens is, there'll be murderers, there'll be drug dealers, there'll be all sorts of things that other countries don't want, and they send them to you, and they send them to us, and you've got to stop them.”
Mr Trump said the Prime Minister had a "very strong stand on immigration".
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds rejected Mr Trump’s claims about migrants in the EU.
Pressed on LBC radio whether he would use the word “invasion”, he said: “No, I wouldn’t… I don’t know whether… he’s talking about other European countries there, or the wider context.”
He later stressed that the Home Office recognised “legitimate concerns” about illegal immigration and asylum hotels, with protests having taken place recently outside one in Epping.
More than 40,000 asylum seekers and economic migrants have arrived in the UK by “small boats” crossing the Channel since Labour came to power last July.
Sir Keir Starmer recently struck a “one-in-one-out” deal with French president Emmanuel Macron to try to tackle the “small boats” crisis as his “smash the gangs” approach appears to be failing to make any significant progress in dealing with the issue.
The policy would see the UK returning migrants who arrive by “small boat” to France and accepting instead an individual who had a legitimate right to come to Britain such as through a family reunification route.
The scheme is due to be trialed as a pilot and may still face opposition from some other EU countries.
Net migration to the UK in the 12 months to December 2024 almost halved to 431,000, according to ONS figures, with a significant level of the drop due to tighter visa restrictions introduced by the previous Tory administration.
Labour, the Tories and Reform UK say the numbers still need to drop further.
Mr Trump is in the UK for a four-day visit to both of his golf clubs in Aberdeen and Ayrshire.
Landing at around 8.30pm on Friday, the president was greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray before speaking to reporters.
The talks between Trump and Sir Keir are set to focus on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher says: “One in three people in Gaza haven’t eaten for days in a row now.”
Israel is allowing a limited amount of additional aid into the besieged strip.
Britain has backed air drops into Gaza of food to alleviate the crisis.
The US president and PM will also discuss the trade deal between the two countries, with a headline rate of 10% imposed on British imports to America, better than the 15% level agreed by the EU, but concerns remain over a 25% levy on steel and possible level on pharmaceuticals.
