Overview
- In a Politico interview recorded Monday and published Tuesday, Trump described Europe as "in decadence" and said its leaders are weak and indecisive.
- He blasted European migration policies as a security threat, cited Sweden and Germany as cautionary examples, and praised Viktor Orbán and Poland for hardline approaches.
- The White House’s new National Security Strategy calls for "cultivating resistance" within European nations, a move widely interpreted as backing far-right parties.
- European Council president António Costa rejected U.S. meddling in allies’ domestic politics, saying true allies do not threaten each other’s democratic life or decisions.
- On the war in Ukraine, Trump argued Russia holds negotiating leverage and continues to push a peace approach reported to require Kyiv to cede territory while faulting Europe for producing few results.