Donald Trump has said European leaders are “weak” in an extraordinary attack on some of Washington’s closest allies.
The US president told POLITICO in an interview that “declining” European countries had failed to control migration or take action to end the war in Ukraine, calling into question America’s long-standing alliances.
He stressed that ideological differences now threatened to disrupt Washington’s close ties with European countries, writes The Telegraph.
Asked whether foreign leaders who are seen as weak can still be allies, Trump said: “It depends.”
He launched a new attack on Sadiq Khan, calling the London mayor a “disaster” who “is solved because so many people have come.”
Trump was asked whether his message was a “tough love message” to European partners, or whether he sees them “as weak.”
“I think they’re weak,” he countered. “But I also think they want to be so politically correct. I think they don’t know what to do.”
Trump also criticized Paris during a speech on migration in Europe and derided Sweden as a “pretty unsafe country.”
“If you look at Paris, it’s a very different place,” he said, adding: “If you look at London, you have a mayor named Khan. He’s a terrible mayor. He’s an incompetent mayor, but he’s a terrible mayor,…”
“I think he’s done a terrible job. London is a different place. I love London… And I hate to see it happen.”
He added that he would not consider his involvement in the European elections, but would support the candidates – even if this risks causing a backlash.
“… I supported people, but I supported people that many Europeans don’t like. I supported Viktor Orbán [of Hungary].”
His comments followed criticism of Europe in the new US national security strategy released last week.
She described Europe as “over-regulated” and said it was facing “civilizational erasure,” a narrative that matched far-right parties.
On the other hand, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the White House document appeared to be a “provocation”, while reiterating that the US remained Europe’s closest ally.
The interview comes days after Trump’s son said his father could “walk away” from the Ukraine peace process in an interview that caused alarm in Europe.
Donald Trump Jr told Sky News that the president could walk away from the talks altogether because the issue was less important to Americans than his father’s “war” against drug cartels. /Telegraph/