The Trump campaign denies ever speaking to Serbian magazine


UPDATE: Donald Trump's campaign denies that the candidate ever spoke to the Serbian magazine Nedeljnik. "This was a hoax and we look forward to receiving a formal retraction and apology from all involved," Trump campaign official Jason Miller told Newsweek. The Serbian magazine is reportedly working to determine whether it was a victim of a hoax. The headline on this article has been changed, but the original post is below.
Donald Trump apologized Thursday to the nation of Serbia for Bill Clinton's decision to bomb Yugoslavia in 1995 and 1999, Newsweek reports. The United States' aerial attacks, coordinated with NATO, targeted Serbs who were committing genocide against Muslim groups in the region, but also caused hundreds of civilian casualties.
"The bombing of the Serbs, who were our allies in both world wars, was a big mistake. Serbians are very good people. Unfortunately, the Clinton administration caused them a lot of harm, but also throughout the Balkans, which they made a mess out of," Trump told the Serbian magazine Nedeljnik. He additionally promised "a new policy with the Balkans" if he is elected president.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While Serbs obviously can't vote in the U.S. election, there are several factors that could be motivating Trump's comments, including the fact that the battleground states of Ohio and Pennsylvania have large communities from the Balkans. But according to Southeast European Politics professor Eric Gordy, "the most obvious interpretation of [Trump's] statement is that it is another sign of alignment with Russia. To be honest, this kind of statement is usually more a symbolic attempt for Russian politicians to drum up resentment towards the U.S."
Gordy added, "I expect this is probably just rhetoric by Trump as U.S. policy in the Balkans has been pretty consistently supportive of Serbia since they waged the aerial campaign in the 1990s. Otherwise it is hard to imagine that the U.S. could be more pro-Serbia at the moment." Read further interpretation of Trump's comments at Newsweek, here.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Southern barbecue: This year’s top three
Feature A weekend-only restaurant, a 90-year-old pitmaster, and more
-
Film reviews: Anemone and The Smashing Machine
Feature A recluse receives an unwelcome guest and a pioneering UFC fighter battles addiction
-
Music reviews: Geese, Jeff Tweedy, and Mariah Carey
Feature “Getting Killed,” “Twilight Override,” and “Here for It All”
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US