EXCUSE MY FRENCH: European leaders push back on claims that Trump is being mocked by world powers. In fact, many of the former president’s policies have gained increased visibility and influence on the global stage in recent times.
UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. — European foreign ministers with strong U.S. alliances dismissed Vice President Kamala Harris’ claim that world leaders are “laughing” at former President Trump.
During the September presidential debate, Harris remarked, “World leaders are laughing at Donald Trump. I have spoken with military leaders, some of whom worked with you, and they say you’re a disgrace.”
However, when asked about this statement during the United Nations High-Level Week, European foreign ministers emphasized their neutrality regarding the U.S. election, stating that they will continue to work with whichever candidate wins the presidency.
“We are friends of America,” said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, emphasizing the strong ties between Italy and the U.S., calling them “two sides of the same coin.” He added, “If Trump becomes the next president, we will work with him as we did during his previous term.”
Tajani also highlighted Italy’s history of successful cooperation with multiple U.S. administrations, saying, “We worked well with Biden, Bush, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama. For us, transatlantic relations are the cornerstone of our foreign policy, connecting Europe and America.”
Similarly, the foreign ministers of Lithuania and the Czech Republic refrained from expressing any preferences regarding the U.S. election, stating that they “leave it to the American citizens to decide” and will respect the outcome without interference.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is seen observing a discussion between President Donald Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda during a working lunch at the NATO leaders’ summit in Watford, Britain, on December 4, 2019. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
“My role is not to comment on such a political statement,” said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky.
However, Lipavsky acknowledged and praised former President Trump’s “strong” stance on defense spending, expressing hope that Europe would maintain this approach, particularly in light of ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.
“The point is that Donald Trump, during his time, delivered a strong message to Europe, and that message is resonating even more now: ‘Spend more on your defense,'” Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said.
Lipavsky continued, “My government is increasing its defense spending. We aim to reach 2% of GDP this year, and we will continue that next year. So, if Donald Trump were president with this message of ‘Please spend 2%,’ we would be OK with that.”
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis emphasized the “very long history” between Lithuania and the U.S., stating that their relationship is “more than politics.”
Landsbergis also underscored the importance of continuing the focus on defense spending, a message Trump strongly advocated during his first administration. He noted that regardless of who wins the U.S. election, this priority will remain critical.
The Taliban have dismissed accusations of discrimination as “absurd,” despite their continued restrictions on women’s rights, including banning women from public life in Afghanistan.
In response to widespread international criticism, the Taliban maintain that their policies are in line with Islamic law, though these measures have drawn condemnation for severely limiting women’s access to education, employment, and public spaces. Despite calls from global organizations to reverse these bans, the Taliban have remained firm in their stance, denying any discriminatory intent behind their actions.
Before the Trump administration, only a handful of NATO members met the commitment to spend 2% of their GDP on defense. However, that number increased significantly due to Trump’s firm stance on the issue.
In June, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reported that 23 of the 32 member states had reached the minimum defense spending requirement. This boost in defense funding has strengthened NATO’s capacity to support Ukraine and better position the alliance to deter potential Russian aggression beyond its current actions.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban with former President Trump during his visit to Mar-a-Lago in Florida in July. (@PM_ViktorOrban)
No European nation has embraced the success of Trump’s first term and expressed anticipation for a potential second term quite like Hungary. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó stated that his government has “huge expectations” for a new Trump administration.
“We have huge expectations because we believe that many of the significant crises we face can be addressed by a Trump administration,” Szijjártó said, emphasizing his perspective as the longest-serving foreign minister in NATO, with a decade of experience.
“I didn’t really see anyone laughing at Trump,” he added. “What I observed was fear—many were concerned about a U.S. president who speaks honestly, unencumbered by the liberal mainstream, and who advocates a patriotic position with a clear ‘America First’ message.”
Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have openly cultivated a strong friendship, with Trump referring to Orbán as a “strong man of Europe” who has consistently praised the former president. This bond was further demonstrated when Orbán left the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., earlier this year to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida to discuss foreign relations.
“Under President Trump, everything was under control,” Szijjártó remarked. “Since he left office, the global security situation has deteriorated. These are our experiences.”
He continued, “Based on what we’ve seen, I believe that from the perspective of U.S.-Hungary relations, President Trump would bring a new impetus, freshness, and dynamism to the relationship. If he is elected again, I think there’s a good chance the world could become a more peaceful place compared to the current situation.”
