City officials in Stockholm have stated that they will not comply with a letter received by one of their offices, which sought to roll back Donald Trump’s diversity policies. Deputy MP Jan Valleskog commented, “It’s so strange. Our political priorities matter, not those from any embassy.”
In March, European leaders criticized the U.S. after reports emerged that businesses in Europe had received letters claiming that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives also applied to foreign companies wanting to do business with the U.S. government.
French officials described the letter as a “form of interference,” asking recipients to complete and return a form confirming that they “do not operate a program to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.” The letter also stated, “If you cannot sign this document, we would appreciate a detailed explanation to be forwarded to our legal team.”
Valeskog mentioned that he got the letter on Tuesday, emphasizing that “Diversity, equality, and inclusion are the values we uphold in Stockholm. That’s crucial for us.” He speculated that the letter was sent to his office because he was listed as a recipient for building permission, but it was unusual for such a letter to target a local or foreign government. “It’s quite unique,” he noted.
After Valeskog spoke to a Swedish paper, many city residents and others across Sweden reacted on social media to the letter. “Thousands are quite upset,” he said, adding that most people keep track of the U.S. situation, yet this felt like an attack on their values.
Despite research showing that businesses with greater gender and ethnic diversity tend to outperform their peers, the Trump administration has resisted initiatives that help historically marginalized groups like women and people of color thrive.
Valeskog firmly stated, “We’re absolutely not signing it, nor will we respond. It’s up to the embassy now to decide on the next steps.” He acknowledged that the situation adds tension to transatlantic relations, which are already strained by tariffs and security issues.
On Tuesday, Valeskog urged embassies that have maintained good relations to withdraw the letter. However, there was no feedback two days later. “They don’t have an ambassador at the moment; maybe that’s why. I’m not sure,” he remarked.
Having previously described the letter’s repercussions as “their headaches, not ours,” he reiterated that if the U.S. embassy chooses to sever ties with the municipality, Stockholm would face greater losses. “Embassies often need our permission for constructions, so it’s in their interest to maintain good relations,” he said. “This is truly bizarre.”
He expressed that his office would keep waiting for some kind of response from the U.S. “This is significant news, not just in Sweden but other countries as well,” he concluded. “We’ll see how it unfolds.”
