Donald Trump has commented on the recent incident involving Greta Thunberg’s boat being seized by the Israeli military. The vessel, named the Madleen, was carrying Thunberg and other activists who were en route to Gaza with humanitarian aid when it was intercepted by Israeli forces.
The 22-year-old environmental activist had prepared a pre-recorded message in case of such an event. In the video, she stated: “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces — or forces that support Israel.” She urged her friends, family, and supporters to pressure the Swedish government for their release.
The Israel Foreign Ministry released an update yesterday confirming that the ship had been taken to Ashdod Port. The ministry referred to it as the ‘Selfie Yacht.’ Thunberg and the other activists were subsequently taken to Ben Gurion Airport to be sent back to their home countries.
The ministry stated: “Some of the ‘Selfie Yacht’ passengers are expected to leave within the next few hours. Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation. Consuls from the passengers’ home countries met them at the airport.”
An image posted by the Israel Foreign Ministry on Twitter today, June 10, showed Thunberg on a flight back to Sweden. “Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France),” the government body tweeted along with the photo.
Asked about the situation, Donald Trump shared his thoughts. “She’s a strange person,” Trump commented. “She’s a young, angry person. I don’t know if it’s real anger; it’s hard to believe, actually.” He further suggested, “She’s certainly different. Anger management. I think she has got to go to anger management class. That’s my primary recommendation for her.”
Regarding Thunberg’s claim of being kidnapped, Trump dismissed it, saying (via Reuters): “I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg.”
This isn’t the first time Trump has made comments about Thunberg. In 2019, when she was named Time’s Person of the Year, Trump expressed his disapproval. He said, “So ridiculous. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!”
In response to Trump’s remarks, Thunberg changed her Twitter bio to read: “A teenager working on her anger management problem. Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend.”