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European leaders breathed a collective sigh of relief on Monday as Donald Trump turned his fire elsewhere during his inaugural address.
Although the new US president promised to “tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens” and announced that the US leave the Paris Agreement on limiting carbon emissions, the cornerstone of EU policy, he did not present concrete measures.
European leaders decided to cover up any potential differences with Washington, and many congratulated the leader of the country that for 80 years was crucial to European security and prosperity.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President António Costa congratulated Trump on identical message posted on X, sending him “best wishes.”
“The EU looks forward to working closely with you to address global challenges,” von der Leyen and Costa wrote.
Greetings from the president @realDonaldTrump for your term as the 47th President of the United States.
The EU looks forward to working closely with you in solving global challenges.
Together, our societies can achieve greater prosperity and strengthen common security.
This is…
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 20, 2025
Trump’s presidency has divided European politicians with some right-wing groups who see his domestic policies, including promises to crack down on illegal migrants, as blueprints for Europe.
Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s right-wing prime minister, was the only leader from the bloc invited to the inauguration, and top EU officials such as von der Leyen have yet to hold meetings with the new president.
Meloni sets himself up as an interlocutor with Trump on behalf of the EU, writing to X: “Italy will always be committed to consolidating the dialogue between the United States and Europe, as a key pillar for the stability and growth of our communities.”
The inauguration was also attended by numerous far-right party leaders, including from Belgium, Germany, Spain and France.
They would like Trump to weaken Brussels, allowing national capitals to have more control, and to reverse policies to cut carbon emissions and monitor internet speech.
Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s far-right prime minister, said Trump’s return would fuel a resurgence of the nationalist right across the bloc. “I hereby launch the second phase of the offensive aimed at capturing Brussels,” he said on Monday.
Other politicians who wanted to join the new US president include Polish President Andrzej Duda, who told reporters shortly before leaving for the World Economic Forum in Davos: “I have no doubts about my good relationship with President Donald Trump and I have no doubts about standing in the[Washington[crowd[howtoshowthesegoodrelations”[Washington[crowdtoshowthesegoodrelations”[washingtonskoj[gomili[kakobipokazalitedobreodnose”[Washington[crowdtoshowthesegoodrelations”
Meanwhile, EU Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis reminded the new US president in Brussels that “the EU and the US have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world.” A lot is economically at stake here.”
He warned that if tariffs are imposed, the EU is ready to retaliate with its own measures, as it did during Trump’s previous presidency. “If there is a need to defend Europe’s economic interests, we are ready to do it,” said Dombrovskis.
Trump also told Europe that it must pay more for its defense and proposed raising NATO contributions to 5 percent of GDP. Several alliance members are still below the current 2 percent target.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte promised on Monday that the Alliance will increase military spending during the new president’s term. “With President Trump back in office, we will boost defense spending and production,” Rutte wrote on X on Monday.
The EU, however, is divided on how to finance the increase.
Guy Verhofstadt, former prime minister of Belgium and president of the pro-European campaign European Movement International, published on X that the block was “completely unprepared for this wild new world”.
“Welcome to a new era of oligarchy-run USA, where billionaire members of Mar-a-Lago decide American policy. And guess what? Protecting the European Union or the standard of living of Europeans is not on their priority list!”
EU business leaders are also preparing for the next four years. An AmCham EU poll, which represents US companies with operations in the EU, reported that nine out of ten expect trade and investment relations between the EU and the US to worsen.
About two-thirds expected US policy to have a negative impact on their business in the EU.
Additional reporting by Raphael Minder in Warsaw
