The City of Stockholm, Sweden, has rejected a "bizarre" letter from the U.S. Trump administration demanding the abolition of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, sparking controversy. This is believed to be the first time such a letter has been sent to a foreign government.   

Jan Valeskog, Deputy Mayor of Stockholm, emphasized, "This is truly bizarre. Our policy priorities are set by ourselves, not by this embassy or any other embassy." He made it clear that there are no plans to comply with the U.S. embassy's request.

In March, businesses across Europe reported receiving letters from the Trump administration stating that its crackdown on DEI initiatives would extend to foreign companies doing business with the U.S. government, drawing strong criticism from European authorities. The French government described the letter as "a form of interference," expressing displeasure.

The letter required recipient companies to sign and return a form stating that they "do not operate any programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion." It also requested detailed reasons for not signing, to be provided to their legal team.

Valeskog stated that the Stockholm City Planning Department received the letter last Tuesday. He emphasized, "We were very surprised because diversity, equality, and inclusion are values that Stockholm pursues and upholds. They are very important values to us."   

He speculated that the letter was sent to the planning department, which handles building permit fee collection. He added that this is the first time such a letter has been sent to a foreign government or local municipality, calling it "very unusual."

Following Valeskog's comments to the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, Stockholm residents and people across Sweden flooded him with protest emails and social media reactions. He said, "Thousands of people are really angry. Most people are aware of what's happening in the U.S., but this demand suddenly feels much closer."

Despite years of research showing that companies with high gender and racial diversity are more likely to outperform their industry peers, the Trump administration has opposed efforts to ensure that people from all backgrounds, including historically marginalized groups like women and people of color, can gain a foothold and succeed within organizations. This stance contradicts the widespread recognition that diversity enhances innovation, productivity, and corporate competitiveness.   

Valeskog made it clear that Stockholm has no intention of complying with the U.S. demand. "Of course, we will not sign, return, or take any action. The next step is up to the embassy," he stated.   

The timing of these letters is particularly concerning, given the delicate state of transatlantic relations. Tensions have already been strained by threats of high tariffs, security issues, and the "signal leaks" that revealed the Trump administration's disdain for Europe.

Valeskog urged the U.S. embassy, with which Stockholm has traditionally maintained good relations, to withdraw the letter on Tuesday. However, as of two days later, there has been no response. He speculated, "Perhaps it's because there is currently no ambassador, but I'm not sure."

He reiterated his earlier statement that the controversy is "their problem, not ours," and emphasized that the U.S. embassy has much more to lose if it cuts ties with Stockholm. "The embassy sometimes needs our building permits, so it's in their interest to maintain good relations and cooperation with the City of Stockholm," he added, calling the situation "really strange."   

Valeskog stated that the city will continue to await any response from the U.S. side. "It's quite big news, not just in Sweden but in other countries as well. We'll see what happens next," he said.

Stockholm's firm response reflects the international community's critical view of the Trump administration's anachronistic pressure to abolish diversity policies. The move has been criticized as blatant interference in the autonomous administration of a sovereign state, and strong opposition is expected to spread against attempts to undermine the values of diversity and inclusion. In particular, despite extensive research showing the positive impact of corporate diversity on innovation and growth, enforcing such policies is seen as going against the international trend. The international community is keenly watching how the U.S. embassy will address this "bizarre" demand and how relations with Stockholm will unfold.

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