U.S. Republican presidential contender Donald Trump said German Chancellor Angela Merkel was wrong to let in thousands of migrants into Germany and that the refugee crisis could trigger revolutions and even the end of Europe.
"I think Angela Merkel made a tragic mistake with the migrants," Mr. Trump told French weekly Valeurs Actuelles .
"If you don't treat the situation competently and firmly, yes, it's the end of Europe. You could face real revolutions," Mr. Trump was quoted as saying, according to the French translation.
He also said Brussels had become a breeding ground for terrorists and some neighbourhoods in Paris and elsewhere in France had become no-go zones.
"Unfortunately, France is not what it used to be, and neither is Paris," he said. He also said tight French gun laws were partly responsible for the killing of dozens of people at the Bataclan concert hall in November 2015 by militants.
"I always have a gun with me. Had I been at the Bataclan, I can tell you I would have opened fire," he said.
Trump further said he thought the United States could have very good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that nothing could be worse than the current situation where President Barack Obama and Mr. Putin scarcely spoke with each other.
"He (Putin) said I was brilliant. That proves certain smartness," said Mr. Trump.
