--- title: Donald Trump: White House Clarifies His Comments on Sweden description: The White House worked to clarify President Donald Trump's comments, when he seemingly referred to an act of terrorism in Sweden canonical: https://time.com/4676133/white-house-donald-trump-sweden/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-02-19T22:19:55.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:54:37.388Z article:section: Politics og:title: White House Clarifies Trump's Comments on Sweden og:description: "He was talking about rising crime and recent incidents in general" og:url: https://time.com/4676133/white-house-donald-trump-sweden/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4ce44f6eeee55903/6988bb0797cdff15df6af895/donald-trump-explain.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: Trump holds a rally in Melbourne, Florida og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: White House Clarifies Trump's Comments on Sweden twitter:description: "He was talking about rising crime and recent incidents in general" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4ce44f6eeee55903/6988bb0797cdff15df6af895/donald-trump-explain.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # President Trump Made a Confusing Reference to Sweden. Here’s What the White House Says He Meant > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: People Are Really Confused About What President Trump Just Said About Sweden [Watch (HLS stream): People Are Really Confused About What President Trump Just Said About Sweden](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/cg9T0JFh.m3u8) (0:45)  _Published 2017-02-19. President Donald Trump baffled many listeners on Saturday when he appeared to refer to an attack in Sweden that did not occur. Trump was discussing refugees in Europe during a rally in Florida when he made the comment._ by [Zeke J Miller / West Palm Beach, Fla.](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke J Miller / West Palm Beach, Fla. Feb 19, 2017 10:19 PM UTC  President Donald Trump and a supporter invited onstage during a "Make America Great Again" rally at Orlando Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Fla., on Feb. 18, 2017. President Donald Trump and a supporter invited onstage during a "Make America Great Again" rally at Orlando Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Fla., on Feb. 18, 2017. Kevin Lamarque—Reuters by [Zeke J Miller / West Palm Beach, Fla.](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke J Miller / West Palm Beach, Fla. Feb 19, 2017 10:19 PM UTC The White House worked to clarify [President Donald Trump](http://time.com/4676011/donald-trump-melbourne-florida-rally/)‘s comments from Saturday, when he seemingly[ referred to an act of terrorism in Sweden the night before](http://time.com/4676024/donald-trump-sweden-terror-attack-rally/), saying he was in fact referring to a news report on rising crime in that country. Speaking to reporters Sunday, principal deputy press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that Trump was referring to general incidents of rising crime in Sweden committed by refugees, and not an act of terror. A[ Fox News segment Friday night](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSzjfAMk-RI) included a report from a documentary filmmaker claiming a link between refugee admissions and rising crime. “You look at what’s happening in Germany. You look at what’s happening last night in Sweden — Sweden — who would believe this? Sweden, they took in large numbers, they are having problems like they never thought possible. You look at what’s happening Brussels, you look at what’s happening all over the world,” Trump said Saturday evening at a campaign rally. “He was talking about rising crime and recent incidents in general, and not referring to a specific incident,” Sanders said. “I think he was referring to a report he had seen the previous night that spoke specifically to that topic,” Sanders added, declining to confirm that Trump had specifically watched the Fox News segment. Shortly after Sanders spoke, Trump tweeted to confirm he was referring to the Fox News report. > [](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/833435244451753984) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] You look at what's happening in Germany. You look at what's happening last night in Sweden, Sweden! Who would believe this? Sweden! 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