US President Donald Trump has shared on his Truth Social account an interview given by Greece’s Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, to Breitbart, in which he discusses the tightening of Greek and European migration policy and credits Trump’s return to the White House with playing a significant role in that shift.

Trump’s decision to repost the Greek minister’s interview is particularly noteworthy, as Plevris speaks warmly of the US president and argues that his re-election in 2024 helped change the political climate surrounding migration not only in the United States but across Europe.

The Migration Minister describes himself as “an admirer of Trump” and says the most significant change brought about by his return to the US presidency has been the new approach to illegal migration.

According to Plevris, countries including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden have all moved towards stricter migration policies as public pressure for stronger border controls has increased.

‘The message from the public is: Enough’

Plevris says a similar trend is evident in Greece, citing opinion polls which, according to him, show that a large proportion of the public either supports the government’s migration policy or wants even tougher measures.

“The message from our citizens is clear: enough,” he says.

At the same time, he presents the Mitsotakis government’s strategy as one that is “firm but fair”, with its main objectives being to reduce irregular arrivals and increase returns.

Fewer arrivals and more returns

In the interview, the minister refers to the impact of the new legislation, claiming that migration flows to Greece have fallen significantly.

Specifically, regarding the route from Libya via Egypt, he says that 3,200 irregular arrivals and just 69 returns were recorded in the first half of 2025, while during the same period in 2026 arrivals fell to 802 and returns rose to 330.

According to Plevris, overall migration flows to Greece have fallen by around 70% over the past year, while returns have increased.

He attributes this development, among other factors, to the detention of individuals who do not qualify for refugee status, stricter action against those who remain in the country illegally after their asylum applications have been rejected, and the expansion of voluntary return programmes.

Evros border fence and the message on border security

The minister also highlights the Evros border fence, describing it as a key tool in limiting irregular crossings along Greece’s land border.

He recalls the 2020 border crisis, when thousands of people attempted to cross en masse from Turkey into Greece, arguing that the fence, together with the presence of the military and police, played a decisive role in managing the situation.

He also stresses that Greece’s borders are the external borders of the European Union.

Reference to the US and Trump

Plevris argues that the policy shift in the United States following Trump’s return to office also made it easier for European governments that were already seeking a tougher stance on migration.

He adds that Greece and the United States are now cooperating in the field of asylum, exchanging best practices.

Plevris also notes that Greece began implementing a stricter migration policy when Kyriakos Mitsotakis took office in 2019, contrasting the current situation with that of 2015, when, as he points out, around one million people passed through the country.

Donald Trump’s decision to highlight the interview on Truth Social adds further political significance to the Greek minister’s remarks, particularly his comments about the influence that, in his view, Trump’s return to office has had on the international debate over migration.