In a candid interview with Politico published on December 9, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Europe as a “decaying” group of nations led by “weak” leaders overly fixated on political correctness.
Trump argued that European capitals are “creaking under the burden of migration from the Middle East and Africa,” warning that without tougher border policies, some states “will not be viable countries any longer.” He singled out cities like London and Paris as examples of this strain.
The interview came amid the Trump administration’s release of its National Security Strategy on December 4, which pledged to “cultivate resistance” to the European status quo on immigration and other volatile issues. Europe receives barely two and a half pages of analysis in the 30-page document, underscoring the ideological gap between Washington and its traditional allies.
European Council President Antonio Costa swiftly pushed back, stating, “Allies do not threaten to interfere in the democratic life or the domestic political choices of these allies.” His response highlighted growing unease within EU institutions over the U.S. “America First” approach.
On December 10, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed that sentiment during a press conference in Rhineland-Palatinate. Describing parts of the U.S. strategy as “unacceptable” from a European perspective, Merz insisted that Germany and Europe must carve out “more independent” security and policy paths. “If democracy in Europe needs saving, we can manage that on our own,” he declared.
Merz acknowledged the value of the transatlantic alliance but warned that “‘America alone’ cannot be in your interest. You need partners in the world,” reflecting a broader push among EU leaders this year to balance cooperation with Washington while asserting strategic autonomy.
As transatlantic tensions simmer, the debate over immigration, security and the future of EU-U.S. collaboration is set to dominate discussions in Brussels and Washington in the coming months. For young global citizens, entrepreneurs and policymakers alike, the evolving dynamic signals a pivotal moment for the alliance that has shaped the post‐Cold War world order.
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Trump says Europe 'decaying,' Merz vows 'more independent' EU
cgtn.com
