O’Reilly says he could have been clearer about Swedish guest

FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2015 file photo, Bill O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel program "The O'Reilly Factor," poses for photos in New York. Swedes are finding themselves puzzled by representations of their country in the U.S. 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. The Swedish Defense Ministry and Foreign Office told a Swedish newspaper they knew nothing of him. Fox News commentator O'Reilly convened an on-air faceoff Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, 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. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2015 file photo, Bill O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel program "The O'Reilly Factor," poses for photos in New York. Swedes are finding themselves puzzled by representations of their country in the U.S. 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. The Swedish Defense Ministry and Foreign Office told a Swedish newspaper they knew nothing of him. Fox News commentator O'Reilly convened an on-air faceoff Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, 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. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly says he could have been clearer about a man who appeared on his show last week billed as a Swedish national security adviser.

Responding to criticism from officials in Sweden and liberal observers, O’Reilly said on Monday night’s episode of “The O’Reilly Factor” that he should have explained that Nils Bildt had no role in the Swedish government.

Bildt appeared on O’Reilly show Thursday, billed as a “Swedish Defense and National Security Advisor.” Bildt linked Muslim immigration to the country with social problems and crime.

Critics objected to O’Reilly’s use of the title, and the Swedish Defense Ministry and Foreign Office said they had no knowledge of Bildt.

O’Reilly said Monday that the criticism was valid, though Bildt is a consultant on national security matters.