US Ambassador stirs up controversy on way out – ‘Some Danish politicians are worse than Trump’

Posted on 19. Jan, 2017 in: News

Donald Trump’s views on Muslim immigration and warmer relations with Russia aren’t just an American phenomenon, according to soon to be ex-US Ambassador Rufus Gifford – they’re also echoed in this country.

In an interview to be shown on TV2 tonight, ahead of his departure from Denmark tomorrow, the Ambassador says that whatever one thinks about what is happening in the United States it’s a fact that the same political tendencies already exist in Denmark – with direct reference to Danish People’s Party politicians Søren Espersen and Marie Krarup who, he claims, ‘have expressed views very close to, or exceeding, Trump’s’.

“If we take a look at some of Mr Trump’s most prominent outbursts, such as the Muslim ban, Søren Espersen suggested something very similar last year,” says the Ambassador, referring to an interview with Berlingske in July when the DPP’s deputy leader suggested a waiting period of five-six years on all immigration from Muslim countries that ‘have become a breeding ground for terrorism.’ Mr Espersen also said at the time he had ‘no doubt’ that the wave of immigrants included many who were sent by the Islamic State.

In the same month Marie Krarup decried the west’s ‘hysterical attitude’ towards Putin, ‘who we should be treating as an ally, not an enemy’ – a statement that, according to Rufus Gifford, is even more controversial than Trump’s:

“If you examine what Trump has said with regards to Russia then I would definitely say that Marie Krarup went a step further by arguing that Denmark should, in foreign policy, move away from the EU and USA and towards Russia – it’s important to accept the reality as these politicians I’ve quoted are just one change in government away from being a foreign or defence minister.”

Mr Espersen declined to comment last night on the comparison with Trump but said he was ‘personally disappointed’ with the Ambassador.

“I don’t believe Rufus Gifford has enough political awareness to make such comparisons and I’m deeply disappointed he didn’t have the courage to approach me personally me with his criticism,” he said.

Ms Krarup also dismissed the criticism and denied she went further than Donald Trump with her views of Russia. “To me Rufus Gifford’s opinion is meaningless,” she said.