Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump on Monday sharply criticized the European Union for what he described as unfair trade practices, vowing that the massive U.S. trade deficit with Europe “will disappear quickly.”
Speaking from the White House, Trump said, “The European Union is screwing us. They treat us unfairly — even though we’re the ones funding NATO.”
He cited a $350 billion trade deficit and claimed that EU countries would be forced to purchase U.S. energy to correct the imbalance. “They’ll have to buy from us. Energy, LNG — they’ll need it. The deficit will be gone soon,” he asserted.
The comments come amid growing tensions between Washington and Brussels over trade. Trump has reimposed tariffs on steel and aluminum and hinted at new duties on European cars and agriculture. EU officials have pushed back, warning of economic fallout and legal challenges at the World Trade Organization.
Experts note that Trump’s $350 billion figure may be exaggerated — the actual goods trade deficit with the EU was closer to $200 billion in 2024 — but his administration continues to advocate for energy exports and protectionist measures.
Energy is a key part of Trump’s trade agenda. With the U.S. now a top exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Trump is positioning American fuel as a strategic alternative for European allies seeking to diversify away from Russian energy.
The EU has not officially responded to Trump’s latest remarks, though European leaders have repeatedly called for stable and rules-based trade relations.
Trump’s renewed push underscores his administration’s hardline stance on trade — and signals that U.S.-EU economic relations remain strained heading into 2025.
