Swedes Wonder What Trump 'Has Been Smoking' After Cryptic Comment

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President Donald Trump applauds the crowd as he holds a "Make America Great Again" rally at Orlando Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Florida, February 18. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

The Swedish embassy in Washington has asked the U.S. State Department for an explanation of a comment made by President Donald Trump that suggested there had been some sort of security incident in Sweden on Friday.

The U.S. president was speaking at at a political rally in Florida on Saturday when, in connection with the mention of a need to keep the United States safe, he said: "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're having problems like they never thought possible."

Trump did not elaborate on the Swedish reference, leaving many Swedes baffled.

"We have asked the question today to the state department. We are trying to get clarity," said Swedish foreign ministry spokeswoman Catarina Axelsson.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom apparently responded on Twitter with the remark "owing to certain circumstances," followed by a passage from her speech in parliament last week on Sweden's foreign policy.

The passage read: "In 2016, 'post-truth' was named Word of the Year by Oxford Dictionaries. Both functioning democracy and constructive cooperation between states require us to speak with, and not about, each other, to honor agreements and to allow ideas to compete. They also require us to respect science, facts and the media, and to acknowledge each other's wisdom."

Many Swedes on Twitter mocked Trump's remark using the hashtag #LastNightInSweden.

Former Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt also took to Twitter, saying: "Sweden? Terror attack? What has he been smoking? Questions abound."

Breaking footage from the Trump administration...to prove #swedenincident is real. pic.twitter.com/bCvPcmIiUs

— Ricardo Martinez (@ricardopolyworm) February 19, 2017

Realizing that Rs don't care about honesty. #SwedenIncident is an example. DJT lying is disqualifying to me. To others it is a data point.

— Leah Casto (@leahkcasto) February 19, 2017

When another government formally inquires WTF, you should have some concern. #swedenincident https://t.co/UX4baEB8g4

— David Eadie (@davidjeadie) February 19, 2017

#swedenincident SOLVED #ikea is a invading force in USA #trump does not like foreigners pic.twitter.com/VpYyFkdhvX

— KCV (@KCV16) February 19, 2017

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