U.S. President Donald J. Trump has criticized European political officials as “weak” and incapable of handling mass immigration from the Third World and migrant crime, according to remarks made public on December 9, 2025.
During statements released Tuesday, Trump said: “I think they’re weak,” referring to Europe’s leadership. He added, “I think they don’t know what to do. Europe doesn’t know what to do.”
European Commission Chief spokeswoman Paula Pinho responded by defending the bloc’s leaders. She stated that Europeans are “proud” of them and praised President Ursula von der Leyen for her competence in addressing global challenges. Pinho highlighted efforts by national leaders across the EU, describing the continent as a “peace project” that navigates issues from trade to regional conflicts. She added: “We are proud of our leaders.”
However, European leaders face significant unpopularity, with French President Emmanuel Macron holding a record-low approval rating of 11 percent.
The Trump administration has also recently criticized Europe over accusations of civilizational decline and censorship, particularly following a €120 million fine imposed on Elon Musk’s social media platform X for breaching transparency rules.
Additionally, the European Union has struggled with how to respond to U.S. tariff policies, walking back its initially aggressive stance after recognizing the continent’s economic reliance on the United States.
