![](/web/20170227082046im_/http://www.seattlepi.com/img/print-header-logo.png)
Swedes puzzle over Fox News' Swedish 'security advisor'
Updated 3:25 pm, Sunday, February 26, 2017
Swedish authorities are confused after a mysterious man on a Fox News feature was referred as the country's "defense and national security advisor." Swedish military and foreign-affairs officials said they have no knowledge of the man, who goes by Nils Bildt. Bildt spoke out about Sweden's crime and "socially deviant activity" during the Bill O'Reilly segment. Marie Pisäter at the Defense Ministry told the newspaper "Dagens Nyheter."
Media: MediaOS VideoNEW YORK (AP) — A trans-Atlantic wave of puzzlement is rippling across Sweden for the second time in a week, after a prominent Fox News program featured a "Swedish defense and national security advisor" who's unknown to the country's military and foreign-affairs officials.
Swedes, and some Americans, have been wondering about representations of the Nordic nation in the U.S. since President Donald Trump invoked "what's happening last night in Sweden" while alluding to past terror attacks in Europe during a rally Feb. 18. There hadn't been any major incident in Sweden the previous night.
Then, Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly convened an on-air faceoff Thursday over Swedish immigration and crime between a Swedish newspaper reporter and a man identified on screen and verbally as a "Swedish defense and national security advisor," Nils Bildt.
President Trump's most significant tweets since he became president
February 21st, 2017
After reports surfaced of GOP lawmakers getting heckled by their constituents at town hall events, the president came to their defense on Twitter.
lessPresident Trump's most significant tweets since he became president
February 21st, 2017
After reports surfaced of GOP lawmakers getting heckled by their constituents at town hall events, the president came to
... moreFebruary 20th, 2017
President Trump tweeted this photo to announce the hiring of General H.R. McMaster as National Security Adviser. The role was vacated after the resignation of Michael Flynn.
February 20th, 2017
President Trump tweeted this photo to announce the hiring of General H.R. McMaster as National Security Adviser. The role was vacated after the resignation of Michael Flynn.
February 19th, 2017
President Trump sent this clarification tweet after a reference to Sweden that was confusing even to the Swedes.
February 19th, 2017
President Trump sent this clarification tweet after a reference to Sweden that was confusing even to the Swedes.
February 17th, 2017
In the wake of a contentious press conference, the president sent out this tweet. Twitter mocked some of the president's responses to reporters' questions.
February 17th, 2017
In the wake of a contentious press conference, the president sent out this tweet. Twitter mocked some of the president's responses to reporters' questions.
February 14th, 2017
After the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Trump tweeted that the "real story" is the leak of White House information to the press.
February 14th, 2017
After the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Trump tweeted that the "real story" is the leak of White House information to the press.
February 11th, 2017
February 11th, 2017
February 9th, 2017
After the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that his controversial travel ban cannot be put back in place, the president took to Twitter to stress his commitment to reinstating the ban. Trump can appeal this decision to the Supreme Court, but is not likely to do so until Neil Gorsuch is confirmed by the Senate.
lessFebruary 9th, 2017
After the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that his controversial travel ban cannot be put back in place, the president took to Twitter to stress his commitment to reinstating the ban.
... moreFebruary 9th, 2017
President Trump went after Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut after he reported that Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch called Trump's Twitter attacks on a judge "disheartening" and "demoralizing" in a private meeting. Republican Senator Ben Sasse stated that he received a similar message from Gorsuch.
lessFebruary 9th, 2017
President Trump went after Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut after he reported that Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch called Trump's Twitter attacks on a judge "disheartening" and
... moreFebruary 8th, 2017
Trump sent this out while waiting for the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to make a ruling on whether to reinstate President Trump's travel ban. His use of "Easy D" sent some on the Internet into fits of laughter.
lessFebruary 8th, 2017
Trump sent this out while waiting for the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to make a ruling on whether to reinstate President Trump's travel ban. His use of "Easy D" sent
... moreFebruary 8th, 2017
Trump tweeted this after Nordstom dropped his daughter's fashion line. White House adviser Kellyanne Conway was counseled after promoting Ivnaka's "stuff" during a televised interview. A Washington ethics committee recommended "disciplinary action" for Conway.
lessFebruary 8th, 2017
Trump tweeted this after Nordstom dropped his daughter's fashion line. White House adviser Kellyanne Conway was counseled after promoting Ivnaka's "stuff" during a televised interview. A
... moreFebruary 7th, 2017
After long delays for the confirmations of cabinet picks Jeff Sessions, Tom Price and others, the president accused the Democrats of obstruction. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren presented a 1986 anti-Sessions letter from Coretta Scott King on the Senate Floor, but was ruled out of order and silenced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
lessFebruary 7th, 2017
After long delays for the confirmations of cabinet picks Jeff Sessions, Tom Price and others, the president accused the Democrats of obstruction. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren
... moreFebruary 7th, 2017
After telling Fox News host Bill O'Reilly during an interview that he "respects" Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump defended himself with this tweet after facing intense criticism for his remarks.
lessFebruary 7th, 2017
After telling Fox News host Bill O'Reilly during an interview that he "respects" Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump defended himself with this tweet after facing intense criticism for his
... moreFebruary 6th, 2017
February 6th, 2017
February 4th, 2017
President Trump tweeted this after U.S. District Judge James Robart issued a temporary nationwide restraining order on Trump's controversial travel ban.
February 4th, 2017
President Trump tweeted this after U.S. District Judge James Robart issued a temporary nationwide restraining order on Trump's controversial travel ban.
February 4th, 2017
President Trump tweeted this after U.S. District Judge James Robart issued a temporary nationwide restraining order on Trump's controversial travel ban.
February 4th, 2017
President Trump tweeted this after U.S. District Judge James Robart issued a temporary nationwide restraining order on Trump's controversial travel ban.
February 3rd, 2017
After making fun of former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for low ratings on the new Celebrity Apprentice, Schwarzenegger offered to switch jobs with the president. Refusing to let Arnold get the final word, Trump issued this tweet.
lessFebruary 3rd, 2017
After making fun of former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for low ratings on the new Celebrity Apprentice, Schwarzenegger offered to switch jobs with the president. Refusing to let
... moreFebruary 3rd, 2017
After reports surfaced that a phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull turned hostile, Trump was quick to claim that the conversation was "civil." Turnbull stated that the call ended "courteously."
lessFebruary 3rd, 2017
After reports surfaced that a phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull turned hostile, Trump was quick to claim that the conversation was "civil." Turnbull stated that the
... moreFebruary 3rd, 2017
The president tweeted this after Iran performed a ballistic missile test. “The days of turning a blind eye to Iran’s hostile and belligerent actions toward the United States and the world community are over,” former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn said in a statement.
lessFebruary 3rd, 2017
The president tweeted this after Iran performed a ballistic missile test. “The days of turning a blind eye to Iran’s hostile and belligerent actions toward the United States and the world
... moreFebruary 2nd, 2017
President Trump tweeted this in response to the riots at UC Berkeley over the appearance of alt-right figure Milo Yiannopoulos. UC Berkeley received $370 million in federal grants from 2014-2015.
lessFebruary 2nd, 2017
President Trump tweeted this in response to the riots at UC Berkeley over the appearance of alt-right figure Milo Yiannopoulos. UC Berkeley received $370 million in federal grants from
... moreFebruary 1st, 2017
After much backlash regarding the implementation of the travel ban, Trump took to Twitter to defend its intentions.
February 1st, 2017
After much backlash regarding the implementation of the travel ban, Trump took to Twitter to defend its intentions.
January 31st, 2017
President Trump announced his appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court with this tweet.
January 31st, 2017
President Trump announced his appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court with this tweet.
January 31st, 2017
A microphone snafu during a press conference held by Congressional Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer led to mockery from the president.
January 31st, 2017
A microphone snafu during a press conference held by Congressional Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer led to mockery from the president.
January 27th, 2017
After floating the idea of a 20% import tax on Mexican goods as a way to pay for the border wall, Trump defended his proposal with this tweet.
January 27th, 2017
After floating the idea of a 20% import tax on Mexican goods as a way to pay for the border wall, Trump defended his proposal with this tweet.
January 26th, 2017
During his final days in office, Barack Obama granted clemency to Chelsea Manning, a former army intelligence officer who leaked over 700,000 classified documents. President Trump called Manning an "ungrateful traitor" after Manning tweeted that America needs an "unapologetic progressive" as its leader.
lessJanuary 26th, 2017
During his final days in office, Barack Obama granted clemency to Chelsea Manning, a former army intelligence officer who leaked over 700,000 classified documents. President Trump called
... moreJanuary 25th, 2017
President Trump continues to insist that there was widespread voter fraud during the election, despite there being no evidence to support his claim. His efforts to launch an investigation have since stalled.
lessJanuary 25th, 2017
President Trump continues to insist that there was widespread voter fraud during the election, despite there being no evidence to support his claim. His efforts to launch an investigation have
... moreJanuary 24th, 2017
The president threatened to use federal forces to stop violence in the city of Chicago, after a surge of shootings in January of 2017.
January 24th, 2017
The president threatened to use federal forces to stop violence in the city of Chicago, after a surge of shootings in January of 2017.
January 22nd, 2017
President Trump issued this tweet in response to the women's marches across the country to protest his presidency. Celebrities joined in throngs at these marches, including Madonna, Julia Roberts, Katy Perry and Amy Schumer.
lessJanuary 22nd, 2017
President Trump issued this tweet in response to the women's marches across the country to protest his presidency. Celebrities joined in throngs at these marches, including Madonna, Julia
... moreBildt linked immigration to social problems in Sweden, lamented what he described as Swedish liberal close-mindedness about the downsides of welcoming newcomers and said: "We are unable in Sweden to socially integrate these people," arguing that politicians lacked a systematic plan to do so.
But if viewers might have taken the "advisor" for a government insider, the Swedish Defense Ministry and Foreign Office told the newspaper Dagens Nyheter they knew nothing of him. Calls to Swedish officials Saturday weren't immediately returned.
Bildt is a founding member of a corporate geopolitical strategy and security consulting business with offices in Washington, Brussels and Tokyo, according its website. His bio speaks to expertise on defense and national security issues, saying his experience includes serving as a naval officer, working for a Japanese official and writing books on issues ranging from investment and political climates to security issues in working in hostile environments.
But security experts in Sweden said he wasn't a familiar figure in their ranks in that country.
"He is in not in any way a known quantity in Sweden and has never been part of the Swedish debate," Swedish Defence University leadership professor Robert Egnell said by email to The Associated Press on Saturday. He and Bildt — also known then as Nils Tolling — were in a master's degree program in war studies together at King's College London in 2002-2003, and Bildt moved to Japan soon after, he said.
The executive producer of "The O'Reilly Factor" said Bildt was recommended by people the show's booker consulted while making numerous inquiries about potential guests.
"After pre-interviewing him and reviewing his bio, we agreed that he would make a good guest for the topic that evening," executive producer David Tabacoff said in a statement.
The network said O'Reilly was expected to address the subject further on Monday's show.
Bildt didn't respond Saturday to email inquiries; a person who answered the phone at his company agreed to relay one. He told Dagens Nyheter on Friday that he was a U.S.-based independent analyst, and Fox News had chosen its description of him.
"Sorry for any confusion caused, but needless to say I think that is not really the issue. The issue is Swedish refusal to discuss their social problems and issues," he added in a statement to the news website Mediaite, explaining his profession as being an independent political adviser.
Trump's initial remark about "last night in Sweden" stirred a burst of social media mockery, while Trump explained on Twitter that he was referring to a Fox News piece on immigration and Sweden that he'd seen the night before.
Trump and his supporters, though, saw vindication when a riot broke out Monday after police arrested a drug suspect in a predominantly immigrant suburb of Stockholm. Cars were set on fire and shops looted, and one policeman was slightly injured.
Trump took to Twitter again Monday to declare that large-scale immigration in Sweden was "NOT!" working out well, upsetting many Swedes.
___
Associated Press writers Jan Olsen in Copenhagen and Mesfin Fedaku in New York contributed to this report.