In a fiery statement during his first cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump accused the European Union of being founded to “screw” the United States and announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on cars and other goods.
Trump declared that he had “made a decision” to impose tariffs, which he would announce “very soon.” He specified that the tariffs would generally be set at 25% and would apply to cars and “all other things,” though he did not clarify whether they would target European imports exclusively or apply worldwide.
The US president has long criticised the EU’s trade surplus with the United States, arguing that it is exploitative.
They’ve really taken advantage of us. They don’t accept our cars, they don’t accept essentially our farm products. They use all sorts of reasons why not, and we accept everything of them.
Trump claimed that the EU was formed with the explicit purpose of disadvantaging the United States.
The European Union was formed to screw the United States, that’s the purpose of it, and they’ve done a good job of it.
Despite his criticism, Trump expressed affection for European countries, noting his family’s European roots. His mother was born in Scotland, and his paternal grandfather immigrated to the US from Germany. He added that he loves “all countries,” but repeated that the EU was created to screw the US.
I guess I’m from there at some point a long time ago, but indirectly…. well, pretty directly, too I guess – but I love the countries of Europe.
Retaliation, Europe’s response
When asked about potential retaliatory tariffs from the EU, Trump dismissed the possibility of effective countermeasures. He argued that the US holds a dominant position in global trade, describing it as the “pot of gold” that everyone wants.
They [Europe] can’t. They can try, but they can’t. They can retaliate, but it cannot be a successful retaliation because we just go cold turkey. We just don’t buy anymore. And if that happens, we win.
The proposed tariffs could escalate trade tensions between the US and Europe, potentially leading to a trade war that would have significant economic repercussions for both sides. Moreover, European politicians and activists have already started to criticise Trump, while blaming Europe for its inability to respond to the US president’s challenge.
Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont condemned those who voted for Trump and then lost their jobs following sweeping layoffs.
The surprise of those who voted for Trump and now the Trump administration has just kicked them out of their jobs. You have to be a real fool to vote for someone who says they’ll take a chainsaw to cut jobs and spending, and then complain that they’ve sawed your life in half. They voted for Trump, but now they’re losing their US government jobs.
Italian journalist and activist Maurizio Belpietro, meanwhile, denounced those politicians who advocated for a ceasefire and against negotiations between the US and Russia, but did not propose alternative solutions.
The left, which in words wants a ceasefire, roots against Trump’s negotiation and hopes that the Union breaks with the US. It’s the hypocrisy of those who criticise compromise but propose no alternatives, because there are none.
Former Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte stated that Italian patriots “vanished from the radar,” accusing the government of a lack of pride and keeping silent in response to Trump’s announcement of new tariffs.
Even today, patriots are sought after. Vanished from the radar. Trump announces 25% tariffs against Europe, and Meloni loses her words. Musk’s man calls Fratelli d’Italia to order, and not even a reaction of pride. Meloni, are you there?
The EU has previously warned that it would respond to U.S. tariffs with countermeasures, but Trump’s confidence in the US’s ability to withstand retaliation reflects his belief in the country’s economic leverage. As the situation develops, the global trade landscape remains uncertain, with the potential for further disruptions and realignments in international trade relationships.
