Trump’s remarks about changing European culture draw ire

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s remarks this week that immigration is “changing the culture” of Europe are drawing the ire of critics, who say he is encouraging white nationalists.

In an interview with the newspaper The Sun and a news conference in Britain, Trump said that allowing millions of immigrants into Europe is “very sad.” He said: “I think you are losing your culture.”

Heidi Beirich, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project, called the comments “racist.” She and other experts say the anti-immigrant feelings reflect a demographic transformation that makes some of the white majority population uncomfortable.

The remarks also ignore places such as Lisbon, Portugal, where an influx of immigrants from Brazil, Cape Verde, and Angola has enriched the culture from professional soccer teams to popular music.