Trump Issues Conciliatory Message to Libya Following Rally Backlash
US President Donald Trump praised the Libyan people following widespread outrage over his derogatory campaign remarks, calling for national unity while urging an end to illegal migration.
US President Donald Trump issued a conciliatory message regarding Libya following fierce backlash over a derogatory remark he made during a campaign rally in Georgia. The comment triggered sharp condemnation from both rival administrations in the divided North African nation, prompting the diplomatic summoning of the US charge d'affaires in Tripoli.
The controversy erupted during a Saturday rally in Perry, Georgia, ahead of upcoming congressional midterms. While attacking Democratic immigration policies, Trump lumped Libya alongside Yemen, Haiti, and Somalia as terror-plagued nations, questioning why the US accepts migrants from those countries instead of Scandinavian nations. Both Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli and Khalifa Haftar's camp in the east denounced the remarks, demanding respect for Libya's sovereignty and dignity.
In response to the mounting diplomatic friction, Trump took to Truth Social to praise the Libyan people as proud, resilient, and hospitable, emphasizing their shared counterterrorism partnership and sacrifices against ISIS. However, the US president reiterated that Libya must halt illegal migration corridors, while expressing support for the country's unification and upcoming national elections without issuing an explicit apology.
