Despite Vice President Kamala Harris's assertion that world leaders are "laughing" at former President Trump, European foreign ministers have dismissed such claims and highlighted positive outcomes from his first administration. Notably, they have stressed the importance of defense spending and the need for a continued focus on this issue.
European foreign ministers gathered at the United Nations High-Level Week have dismissed Vice President Kamala Harris's claim that world leaders are "laughing" at former President Donald Trump. During the September presidential debate, Harris stated that "world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump."
However, European diplomats present at the UN dismissed this characterization, emphasizing their neutrality in the US election and their willingness to collaborate with the eventual winner.
European Officials Debunk Claims of World Mocking Trump, Acknowledge Positives in First Term
"We are friends of America," said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. "If Trump will be the new president of America, we will work with him as we worked with him when he was president of America."
Tajani highlighted the long-standing relationship between Italy and the US, stating that they are "two sides of the same coin." He emphasized the significance of transatlantic relations as a cornerstone of European foreign policy.
European Officials Debunk Claims of World Mocking Trump, Acknowledge Positives in First Term
Foreign ministers from Lithuania and the Czech Republic reiterated their non-interference in the US election and their respect for the American people's decision.
"My role is not to comment on such a political statement," said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky. "We leave it to the American citizens to decide."
European Officials Debunk Claims of World Mocking Trump, Acknowledge Positives in First Term
Lipavsky acknowledged Trump's emphasis on defense spending and expressed hope that Europe would continue to prioritize this issue in light of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
"The point is that Donald Trump had, at his time, one strong message for Europe, and that message was quite resonating, and is resonating more now because he was saying spend more on your defense," Lipavsky stated.
European Officials Debunk Claims of World Mocking Trump, Acknowledge Positives in First Term
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis emphasized the "very long history" between the US and Europe, describing their relationship as "more than politics." He echoed the sentiment that the next US president must prioritize defense spending, aligning with Trump's previous stance.
Prior to the Trump administration, few NATO members met the 2% GDP defense spending commitment. However, Trump's insistence on the issue led to a significant increase in compliance.
European Officials Debunk Claims of World Mocking Trump, Acknowledge Positives in First Term
In June 2023, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reported that 23 of the 32 member states had achieved the minimum spending requirement, enhancing the bloc's support for Ukraine and potentially deterring further Russian aggression.
No European nation has openly endorsed Trump's candidacy. However, Hungary has expressed optimism about a potential second Trump term. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó stated that his government would have "huge expectations."
"We do believe that many of the major crises which give us a lot of concern can be resolved by an administration of President Trump," Szijjártó said.
Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have maintained a close relationship, with Orbán describing Trump as a "strong man of Europe." Orbán even left the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., earlier in the year to meet with Trump in Florida to discuss foreign affairs.
Szijjártó asserted that "everything was under control" during Trump's presidency and that "since President Trump has left office, the whole global security situation is deteriorating." He expressed hope that a second Trump term would lead to a more peaceful world.
"If we base it on our experience, we say yes, from a perspective of U.S.-Hungary relations, I think President Trump would bring another impetus, freshness, dynamism to this relationship," Szijjártó said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
