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STOCKHOLM, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- In a speech on Saturday, Trump suggested that something had happened "last night in Sweden," prompting Swedes to take to Twitter and other social media wondering what on earth the U.S. president might refer to.
"We've got to keep our country safe. 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 said at a rally in Florida on Saturday, according to a CNN report.
The comment appeared to refer to recent terror attacks happened in Germany, but no such attack has actually occurred in Sweden.
"No. Nothing has happened here in Sweden. There has not been any terrorist attack here. At all," the national account of Sweden on Twitter posted.
Carl Bildt, the former prime minister of Sweden, tweeted: "Sweden? Terror attack? What has he been smoking? Questions abound."
But Trump was unwilling to admit he may have made a mistake, clarifying on Monday in a Twitter post that the statement "was in reference to a story that was broadcast on Fox News concerning immigrants & Sweden."
Within two hours of Trump's Twitter post, the official account of the Embassy of Sweden in the United States responded: "We look forward to informing the U.S. administration about Swedish immigration and integration policies."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden also responded, saying that it is good to receive clarification of what Trump meant when he mentioned Sweden in a speech.
"We maintain continuous diplomatic contacts with U.S. representatives, and in these contacts we keep them informed of the situation in Sweden in various areas," the ministry said on Monday.
"The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Sweden's embassies work continuously to disseminate an accurate and fair image of Sweden. Unfortunately, we are seeing a general upward trend in inaccurate information," the ministry added.
But Trump did not want to let the incident pass. In another tweet posted on Monday, Trumps said: "Give the public a break -- The fake news media is trying to say that large scale immigration in Sweden is working out just beautifully. NOT!"
"It's nice of you to care, really, but don't fall for the hype. Facts: We're ok!" the country's official twitter account posted in response.
In recent years, Sweden has taken in more refugees per capita than any other European country with more than 160,000 people arriving in Sweden to seek asylum in 2015 alone, said a CNN report.
Although Trump and many other people may have connected the crimes in Sweden with the refugees, a crime expert has denied the connection.
"Sweden definitely, like other countries, faces challenges when it comes to integration of immigration of immigrants into Swedish society," Henrik Selin, director of intercultural dialogue at the Swedish Institute told the CNN.
"There is little evidence, however, that Sweden has turned into the lawless country it is at times being described as broad," Selin added. Enditem
