"Pathetic": Trump administration reveals its hostile intentions toward Europe in chat scandal

Astrid Lund - Betty MacDonald fan club organizer: "Donald Trump and his incompetent team are pathetic and a disgrace to the U.S. His voters will soon be cursing themselves for their idiotic decision; some are already doing so!" ------------- Frankfurter Rundschau "Pathetic": Trump administration reveals its hostile intentions toward Europe in chat scandal Laura May • 58 million • 2 minutes read Hostility The leaked chat of US politicians reveals insights into Donald Trump's administration. And its hostile attitude toward Europe. Washington – Donald Trump is a businessman. The idea of ​​an alliance with Europe based on the values ​​of democracy and human rights has never interested the US president per se. He runs the USA like a business: A partner that doesn't bring profit is useless to Trump. "The West," NATO, the United Nations – Trump can do without them. What matters: "America First." The extent to which contempt for Europe is widespread among Trump's ministers is demonstrated by the leaked Signal chat from Trump's ministers. In addition to the sensitive military plans, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Trump's top advisor Stephen Miller have made their views on the relationship between the US and Europe clear. US Vice President Vance rants in Signal chat: "Hate to bail out Europe." In the Signal chat, Vance expresses regret that the US military's fight against the Houthi rebels in the Suez Canal would also help the EU. "I think we're making a big mistake," writes the US Vice President, who has so far consistently appeared in public as a supporter of all Trump's plans. He warns that the US public might not understand the far-flung mission, which isn't all that important to the US. "Three percent of US trade passes through the Suez Canal, while for Europeans, it's 40 percent." Vance expresses his frustration with his former partner. "If you think we should do it, let's do it," he writes to Defense Secretary Hegseth. But: "I simply hate to bail Europe out again." "I share your disgust for Europe's parasites" – Hegseth to Vance in a US chat In his chat response to Vance, Hegseth also makes clear his disdain for Europe's security policy being dragged along by the US: "I share your disgust for Europe's parasites. It's pathetic." Donald Trump and members of the US administration have repeatedly made it clear in the past how much they believe the EU benefits economically from the US Navy's protection of international sea routes. Germany, in particular, was also in the spotlight because the Federal Republic had long failed to meet NATO's funding targets. "Taking Economic Advantage" – Trump Advisor Against Europe During the Signal chat, Trump's top advisor, Stephen Miller, therefore suggested charging the Europeans for the airstrikes to restore safe shipping routes in the Suez Canal. Trump's punitive tariffs do not affect China, but rather the US's closest allies. He called for clarity on what to expect from Egypt and Europe in return. Furthermore, it must be determined how the US could enforce its demands. Miller, above all, wants to know what happens if Europe does not pay. "If the United States successfully restores the freedom of trade routes at great cost, then we must take economic advantage in return," the far-right conservative argues.