TRIPOLI, Libya — Libya’s foreign ministry has summoned the US chargé d’affaires to protest remarks by President Donald Trump describing the North African country as “terror-infested”, prompting criticism from rival administrations in the country.

The ministry said on Sunday that it had formally raised its objections to the comments, rejecting statements it said undermined the dignity of Libyans or diminished their standing internationally.

Trump made the remarks during a rally in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday while criticising a bill sponsored by US Senator Jon Ossoff concerning immigration from several countries, including Libya, Yemen, Haiti and Somalia. During his speech, Trump referred to the countries using derogatory language previously associated with comments from his first presidential term.

The comments drew condemnation from Libya’s rival political administrations in the east and west, both of which rejected what they described as attempts to pull the country into US domestic political debates.

Trump Says US Respects Libyan People

In a statement posted on Truth Social on Sunday night, Trump said the United States remained committed to its relationship with Libya and described its people as “proud, resilient, hospitable, and deserving of peace and prosperity”.

He also acknowledged Libyans who had fought against Islamic State (ISIS), describing the militant group as a common enemy of both countries.

However, Trump argued that Libya should not continue to serve as a route for irregular migration into the United States, saying the situation had to end.

His comments combined an expression of respect for the Libyan people with a renewed focus on migration, an issue that remains politically contentious in Washington.

Diplomatic Tensions Amid Libya’s Political Division

Libya has remained politically divided between rival authorities in the west and east since years of conflict and failed political transitions following the 2011 uprising that ended Muammar Gaddafi’s rule.

The country’s competing administrations have frequently disagreed over political legitimacy and governance, although both condemned Trump’s latest remarks.

The diplomatic protest highlights the sensitivity surrounding international descriptions of Libya, particularly given the country’s history of conflict and the role Libyans have played in efforts to combat extremist groups.

It remains unclear whether the dispute will lead to further diplomatic measures. For now, Libya’s foreign ministry has made its opposition to the remarks clear, while Trump has reiterated his stated support for the Libyan people alongside calls for tighter action against irregular migration.

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