At the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump singled out Greece as a country struggling with uncontrolled migration.
He emphasized that the issue extends beyond national borders, highlighting Greece’s unusually high proportion of foreign nationals in its prison system as a striking example of the broader social and security challenges migration can create.
Greece’s situation according to European data
Drawing on 2024 statistics from the Council of Europe, Trump said nearly 54% of Greece’s prison population consists of foreigners, slightly higher than Germany (50%) and Austria (53%), though below Switzerland (72%).
He framed this as part of a broader pattern of migration challenges affecting European nations.
“Both the immigration and the suicidal energy ideas will be the death of western Europe, if something is not done immediately, this cannot be sustained,” Trump said, arguing that countries have a right to limit the number of migrants entering their territories.
Trump went on to call for an end to what he described as “open-borders.”
“When your prisons are filled with so-called asylum seekers, who they repaid kindness with crime, it’s time to end the failed experiment of open borders you have to end it now,” Trump said.
“Your countries are going to hell,” he added, noting that the United States has already taken measures to limit immigration.
Trump drops a major truth bomb for Greece
Πρέπει να αρχίσουμε να φτιάχνουμε κάτι εδώ pic.twitter.com/omza0AUiec
— Echoes of Hellas 🇬🇷 (@HellenicEchoes) September 23, 2025
Trump blames UN for migration issues in Greece, Europe and calls for national measures
Trump sharply criticized the UN, accusing the organization of enabling migration by providing financial and logistical support to migrants. He argued that the UN’s actions undermine Western countries’ sovereignty and create additional security and social burdens.
Trump reinforced his message for governments worldwide to prioritize national citizens’ safety: “We have reaffirmed that America belongs to the American people, and I encourage all nations to take a stand in defending their citizens,” he said. He singled out European nations, including Greece, as facing urgent challenges.
Migration as a top political issue
The US President described uncontrolled migration as “the number one political issue of our time,” calling for stricter border enforcement and caution in international policymaking.
His address stressed both the domestic and international dimensions of migration, with Greece positioned as a critical example of the pressures European countries face.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
