European City Reacts to Trump's DEI Ultimatum
View of Stockholm city hall. View of Stockholm city hall ahead on May 1, 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden.An official in Stockholm has condemned a U.S. demand his city applies the Trump administration's rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies for contractors dealing with the American embassy.
Jan Valeskog, Stockholm's planning commissioner, described as "bizarre" a letter by the U.S. Embassy in Sweden calling for the city's authorities to formally agree to cease diversity initiatives, according to the newspaper Dagens Nyheter.
Firms in other European countries like France, Denmark and the Netherlands have also reported they have received the U.S. request, prompting one Danish official to call for a united EU response.
The U.S. State Department told Newsweek in April that the directive only applied to foreign contractors for American missions who were being asked to complete one additional piece of paperwork.
Newsweek has contacted Valeskog and the U.S. State Department for comment.
Why It Matters
The Swedish media report marks the latest example of Europe pushing back against the Trump administration's effort to dismantle DEI initiatives across government and industry, which apply beyond U.S. borders.
It follows French companies with U.S. government contracts being asked to comply with its executive orders banning DEI initiatives.
Firms elsewhere in Europe such as Denmark and the Netherlands have also received the missives under the Executive Order on Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (EO 14173) which is straining Washington's ties with Europe.
What To Know
Dagens Nyheter reported that the U.S. embassy had given Stockholm's planning office 10 working days to sign a contract stating it would comply with U.S. federal anti-discrimination laws and not operate any DEI programs that violate them.
The letter which was started with "dear city planning office" explained how everyone the U.S. government purchases goods and services from must sign the contract, the paper said.
However, Valeskog told the newspaper that it would refuse such a move which was "the opposite of what we stand for," as he called for the U.S. to withdraw the demand.
He said it the U.S. embassy that benefits from the City of Stockholm, not the other way around. If the U.S. ended ties with the city's planning office, the embassy would have difficulty getting a permit for construction. "It's their headache, not ours," Valeskog, added according to a translation.
The newspaper has reported about Swedish companies facing the same demands and American federal contractors in France, Belgium, Spain and Denmark have also expressed anger at the policy.
The U.S. State Department told Newsweek in April that U.S. missions are reviewing all contracts and grants to ensure they are consistent with White House Executive Orders.
The statement from April 2 said that contractors and grantees are being asked for the certification required by the President's Executive Order on Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (EO 14173).
This relates only to vendors or other organizations who have or seek to have contracts with, or grants from, U.S. missions, and only asks contractors and grantees to certify compliance with U.S. federal anti-discrimination laws, it said.
"In other words, we are just asking them to complete one additional piece of paperwork," the statement said. There are generally no U.S. federal anti-discrimination laws applicable to foreign firms operating outside the U.S. unless controlled by a U.S. employer and employ U.S. citizens.
What People Are Saying
Jan Valeskog, Stockholm's planning commissioner, per Dagens Nyheter, via translation: "It's completely bizarre...we absolutely do not intend to do that, it is the opposite of everything we stand for."
U.S. State Department, to Newsweek, on April 2: "U.S. missions are reviewing all of our contracts and grants to ensure they are consistent with the recent White House Executive Orders...
"This effort relates solely to vendors or other organizations who have or seek to have contracts with, or grants from, our missions."
What Happens Next
As the DEI orders continue to anger European firms, the European Union said last month it was examining whether the directives met international rules and mulling a unified response.
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This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 7:18 AM.
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