**European leaders across the political spectrum are still struggling to adapt to the aggressive and chaotic diplomatic methods of the US administration.**
In Europe, as elsewhere, several high-ranking leaders and diplomats were already in office during Trump’s first term (2017-2021). They were familiar with his abrasive ways but reassured themselves by reiterating that the American president was primarily “transactional” and that, in this context, there was room for discussion. At the onset of his second term, they also imagined that, informed by experience, he would be better prepared for the exercise of power than in 2017 and that relations with his administration would be more professional.
Little remains of these hopes, either in form or substance. The leaders of US-allied countries struggle to understand who their counterparts in Washington are and what they want. Whether on Ukraine or trade issues, several people around the American president play a role in these various matters and moreover, do not share the same opinion. “Currently, indeed, one would wish for more clarity” from the Americans, summed up European Commissioner for the Economy Valdis Dombrovskis on April 23.
Because most of them are weak, as evidenced by their response (or lack thereof) to Russia
No_Push4900 on
Whilst entirely logical, Trumps base will read the headline and say “That’s what I voted for”
I mean, they won’t because it’s literally a foreign language but if they could; that’s what they’d say.
Suspicious-Fox- on
Also, half the time, Europeans are pissing their pants laughing at the batshit news coming from the USA lately.
LaughingLuxe on
100 days of ‘America First’… and Europe’s still asking, ‘What just happened
_chip on
Trumps version of Shock and awe economics. Trumpism..
DarrensDodgyDenim on
Where is Kohl and Mitterand when you need them? though granted Macron seems to be one of the few we have with a spine….
Legitimate-Cow5982 on
The wotsit basically sashayed into the room, got into a fistfight with Zelensky, shat himself from the overexertion and then threw his shat clothes at von der Leyen.
And he wonders why we take him seriously
Few_Mess_4566 on
With a few exceptions Europe as a whole has been shiiting on Trump since he entered politics.
If those people are shellshocked, then they are incredibly stupid.
Skeleton_KeyB000 on
Yeah well maybe it’s time for our European policymakers on the EU and national level up to wake up instead of sitting around and crying about it. US pivoting towards Asia has been very much on the agenda since Obama in 2012 with them stating : “It’s time for Europe to take more charge of its own security”
It’s just Trump is more of a cunt about it
DavidlikesPeace on
Why?
Why is this a surprise?
Why does Trump (or Putin for this matter) get so much benefit of the doubt from European leaderps?
You politicians knew Trump had every chance of winning the 2024 election. And you knew he hates democracy and loves tyranny. You knew he is a tosser who doesn’t give a toss about Ukrainian lives, let alone the well-being of Europe
You should have been prepared!
yezu on
Some of them are still shocked Russia is not Europe’s friend.
Most of the European ruling class needs to be exchanged.
SilverHearing4525 on
You havent seen anything yet, this is just the beginning. Trump is taking back years of Euro-fraud against Americans.
CatEyePorygon on
Only those who lack a backbone and came into the position expecting to lay back, put their feet on the table, smile when making a public statement and watching the money in their pocket grow. And sadly, there’s plenty of such cases.
The sooner they get replaced the better. Europe has all the potential, but we simply don’t use it
Nisiom on
It probably makes more sense mentioning that Europe is quickly and effectively adapting and reorganizing to counter the erratic US administration.
But I guess the catastrophist approach of painting Europe as “in shambles”, “shellshocked”, or “scrambling” as if the union were a bunch of mentally handicapped toddlers gets more clicks, even if it stokes the flames of anti-Europeism that are endangering the whole continent.
And this is a media outlet that’s supposed to be on *our* side. With friends like this, who needs enemies?
bhyellow on
Trump is easy to deal with if you are mildly intelligent.
Super-Admiral on
The feeling is mutual.
Trump 2.0 is the most pathetic administration the US ever elected. Every single day they add even more proof.
Decouple and disconnect, from the US nothing good will come. They are reaping what they sowed.
420Frederik on
To be fair, Americans choosing to completely annihilate an alliance that has existed for longer than a good chunk of them have been alive for and gives them only benefits without any drawbacks is quite shocking.
Bosmeester on
MAGA = “Moscow Agent Governing America”
PipingTheTobak on
You spent literally decades having endless disdain for Americans and now you’re shocked they elected someone who disdains you back?
Did you think that people wouldn’t notice?
QuirkyWish3081 on
You say that but I read that the EU are all eager to get into bed with Trump with a multi billion dollar deal. So you just rewarding him for his lunacy. Weak.
Novel_Quote8017 on
It’s not like there was any time to brace for impact. /s
Mrstrawberry209 on
Good! Europe should’ve started carving their own path 25 years ago.
Spart4cuz on
G G
NoMinute3572 on
I’m shellshocked that Europe was still sitting on its ass.
All this could be seen from space by a blind guy.
Didn’t we learn from social media brain rot and troll farms with Brexit?
Don’t you pay attention to what’s being said by them, literally, every single day?
Thousand years of Human History and we still don’t know how this works?
Civilization and rule of law only works if you can enforce it.
Eventually some cunt with big sticks will always try to destroy it.
ctvarlan on
Let’s do not forget the 2000+ years Stoics’ wisdom: the obstacle is the path. There are a lot of opportunities assorted with some discomfort, but there *is* the path.
26 commenti
**European leaders across the political spectrum are still struggling to adapt to the aggressive and chaotic diplomatic methods of the US administration.**
European diplomats have still not recovered from the surprise. In early April, Donald Trump caught everyone off guard by [announcing the resumption of negotiations between Tehran and Washington](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/united-states/article/2025/04/08/iran-open-to-a-new-nuclear-deal-if-us-shows-goodwill_6739965_133.html) for a new Iranian nuclear deal, seven years after he ended the previous agreement during his first term.
A fourth meeting on this issue had been scheduled for Saturday, May 3, in Rome, but was postponed on Wednesday. No one in European or Iranian governments understands what the United States is trying to achieve, or who is really leading the talks, apart from the US president’s special envoy, [Steve Witkoff](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/03/10/steve-witkoff-donald-trump-s-super-special-envoy-from-the-middle-east-to-ukraine_6739003_4.html), a novice in diplomacy.
In Europe, as elsewhere, several high-ranking leaders and diplomats were already in office during Trump’s first term (2017-2021). They were familiar with his abrasive ways but reassured themselves by reiterating that the American president was primarily “transactional” and that, in this context, there was room for discussion. At the onset of his second term, they also imagined that, informed by experience, he would be better prepared for the exercise of power than in 2017 and that relations with his administration would be more professional.
Little remains of these hopes, either in form or substance. The leaders of US-allied countries struggle to understand who their counterparts in Washington are and what they want. Whether on Ukraine or trade issues, several people around the American president play a role in these various matters and moreover, do not share the same opinion. “Currently, indeed, one would wish for more clarity” from the Americans, summed up European Commissioner for the Economy Valdis Dombrovskis on April 23.
**Read the full article here:** [**https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/05/02/after-100-days-european-allies-are-still-shellshocked-by-trump-s-disdain_6740827_4.html**](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/05/02/after-100-days-european-allies-are-still-shellshocked-by-trump-s-disdain_6740827_4.html)
Because most of them are weak, as evidenced by their response (or lack thereof) to Russia
Whilst entirely logical, Trumps base will read the headline and say “That’s what I voted for”
I mean, they won’t because it’s literally a foreign language but if they could; that’s what they’d say.
Also, half the time, Europeans are pissing their pants laughing at the batshit news coming from the USA lately.
100 days of ‘America First’… and Europe’s still asking, ‘What just happened
Trumps version of Shock and awe economics. Trumpism..
Where is Kohl and Mitterand when you need them? though granted Macron seems to be one of the few we have with a spine….
The wotsit basically sashayed into the room, got into a fistfight with Zelensky, shat himself from the overexertion and then threw his shat clothes at von der Leyen.
And he wonders why we take him seriously
With a few exceptions Europe as a whole has been shiiting on Trump since he entered politics.
If those people are shellshocked, then they are incredibly stupid.
Yeah well maybe it’s time for our European policymakers on the EU and national level up to wake up instead of sitting around and crying about it. US pivoting towards Asia has been very much on the agenda since Obama in 2012 with them stating : “It’s time for Europe to take more charge of its own security”
It’s just Trump is more of a cunt about it
Why?
Why is this a surprise?
Why does Trump (or Putin for this matter) get so much benefit of the doubt from European leaderps?
You politicians knew Trump had every chance of winning the 2024 election. And you knew he hates democracy and loves tyranny. You knew he is a tosser who doesn’t give a toss about Ukrainian lives, let alone the well-being of Europe
You should have been prepared!
Some of them are still shocked Russia is not Europe’s friend.
Most of the European ruling class needs to be exchanged.
You havent seen anything yet, this is just the beginning. Trump is taking back years of Euro-fraud against Americans.
Only those who lack a backbone and came into the position expecting to lay back, put their feet on the table, smile when making a public statement and watching the money in their pocket grow. And sadly, there’s plenty of such cases.
The sooner they get replaced the better. Europe has all the potential, but we simply don’t use it
It probably makes more sense mentioning that Europe is quickly and effectively adapting and reorganizing to counter the erratic US administration.
But I guess the catastrophist approach of painting Europe as “in shambles”, “shellshocked”, or “scrambling” as if the union were a bunch of mentally handicapped toddlers gets more clicks, even if it stokes the flames of anti-Europeism that are endangering the whole continent.
And this is a media outlet that’s supposed to be on *our* side. With friends like this, who needs enemies?
Trump is easy to deal with if you are mildly intelligent.
The feeling is mutual.
Trump 2.0 is the most pathetic administration the US ever elected. Every single day they add even more proof.
Decouple and disconnect, from the US nothing good will come. They are reaping what they sowed.
To be fair, Americans choosing to completely annihilate an alliance that has existed for longer than a good chunk of them have been alive for and gives them only benefits without any drawbacks is quite shocking.
MAGA = “Moscow Agent Governing America”
You spent literally decades having endless disdain for Americans and now you’re shocked they elected someone who disdains you back?
Did you think that people wouldn’t notice?
You say that but I read that the EU are all eager to get into bed with Trump with a multi billion dollar deal. So you just rewarding him for his lunacy. Weak.
It’s not like there was any time to brace for impact. /s
Good! Europe should’ve started carving their own path 25 years ago.
G G
I’m shellshocked that Europe was still sitting on its ass.
All this could be seen from space by a blind guy.
Didn’t we learn from social media brain rot and troll farms with Brexit?
Don’t you pay attention to what’s being said by them, literally, every single day?
Thousand years of Human History and we still don’t know how this works?
Civilization and rule of law only works if you can enforce it.
Eventually some cunt with big sticks will always try to destroy it.
Let’s do not forget the 2000+ years Stoics’ wisdom: the obstacle is the path. There are a lot of opportunities assorted with some discomfort, but there *is* the path.