Trump had called Thunberg “angry” and a “troublemaker” after her detention and subsequent deportation by Israel, after the 42-boat-strong Global Sumud Flotilla attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, but was intercepted by Israeli forces.
“She’s just a troublemaker. .. She’s no longer into the environment now. She has an anger management problem. I think she should see a doctor,” Trump told reporters. “Have you ever watched her? She’s a young person. She’s so angry, she’s so crazy.”
It’s not the first time the former U.S. president and the climate activist have clashed. A previous spat in June saw Trump call Thunberg “strange” and “angry” over her first mission to deliver aid to Gaza — prompting her to reply that the world needs “more angry women.”
During Trump’s first term, he mocked the then-16-year-old climate activist, sarcastically describing her as a “very happy young girl” after Thunberg delivered a speech on climate action urgency at the United Nations.
Thunberg, who first made her name by initiating the “Fridays for Future” climate strikes in 2018, has since expanded her activism to include support for humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
Thunberg arrived in Greece on Monday after being expelled from Israel. She, along with about 160 other campaigners from the flotilla, was greeted by cheers.
Israel’s foreign ministry announced on Monday that it had expelled a total of 171 activists from the flotilla’s vessels.
