Recent discussions surrounding former President Donald Trump have brought new attention to his international reputation, especially after Vice President Kamala Harris claimed during a September debate that world leaders were “laughing” at Trump. However, European officials have swiftly dismissed these assertions, emphasizing their respect for Trump’s policies, particularly his push for increased defense spending within NATO.
At the United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level Week, several European foreign ministers refuted Harris’s claims, stating they did not perceive any ridicule directed at Trump.
Instead, they praised his strong stance on defense spending, which resulted in significant changes within NATO. During his presidency, Trump’s insistence that NATO members meet their defense spending commitments—2% of GDP—was a major factor in bolstering the alliance’s preparedness and response capabilities.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, when asked about Harris’s remarks, stated that Italy views its relationship with the U.S. as a key part of its foreign policy. “If Trump will be the new president of America, we will work with him as we worked with him when he was president of America,” Tajani remarked, reflecting the pragmatic approach many European leaders take toward U.S. administrations, regardless of who is in office. Tajani further emphasized that the transatlantic relationship is central to Europe’s security strategy, noting that Trump’s policies helped enhance NATO’s strength during a critical time.
Similarly, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky declined to comment on U.S. electoral politics but lauded Trump’s focus on defense, particularly in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Lipavsky highlighted that Trump’s call for NATO members to increase their defense budgets had long-lasting effects. “Donald Trump had, at his time, one strong message for Europe, and that message was quite resonating and is resonating more now because he was saying, ‘Spend more on your defense,’” Lipavsky noted. The Czech Republic, he added, had increased its military expenditure in direct response to Trump’s call.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis echoed these sentiments, pointing out that the U.S.-Lithuania relationship extends beyond mere political alliances and has a deep-rooted historical context. Landsbergis emphasized that the focus on defense spending initiated by Trump is something that continues to resonate in Europe.
Perhaps one of the strongest endorsements of Trump came from Hungary. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, known for his close relationship with Trump, emphasized the positive impact of Trump’s first term, stating that Hungary had “huge expectations” for a potential second Trump presidency.
Szijjártó credited Trump with stabilizing the global security environment during his tenure and expressed concerns over the decline in global stability since Trump left office. “Under President Trump, everything was under control,” Szijjártó stated, emphasizing that his country hopes for the return of what he described as Trump’s “impetus, freshness, and dynamism” to international relations.
NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has also previously highlighted the effect of Trump’s defense policies on NATO’s overall strength. Since Trump’s time in office, the number of NATO members meeting the 2% GDP defense spending requirement has risen significantly, a change that many attribute to Trump’s firm approach.
As of June 2024, 23 of the 32 NATO member states have hit the minimum spending threshold, which has been crucial in the alliance’s ability to support Ukraine during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
While Trump’s critics in the U.S. have often pointed to instances where they believe he has been ridiculed by global leaders, European officials have made it clear that, from a policy perspective, Trump’s administration had a significant impact on NATO’s cohesion and effectiveness.
Whether these leaders will prefer to work with Trump again should he win the 2024 election remains to be seen, but it is clear that they respect the accomplishments of his presidency, particularly in the realm of defense policy.
The mixed international reception of Trump as a leader, while complex, showcases how deeply interconnected his policies were with global military strategy.
As NATO continues to play a crucial role in European security, particularly in the face of Russian aggression, Trump’s legacy in pushing for increased military spending could influence how European leaders navigate U.S. relations, regardless of who wins the 2024 election.
Sources: (WFIW FM /WFIW AM / WOKZ-FM)(WFIN)
This is all well and good that these big wheels in foreign nations speak well of Trump, but have they been condemning Biden and Harris all along; not hardly, because they “only want the money honey and they play the game well to milk the American Cow!” Also with all of the horrid leadership here in our Federal Government and in most of those allied governments the world is now on the brink because of all the incompetence, corruption and lack! So now they have a flame under their asses to change the paradigm fast or there will be hell to pay in Europe as well as here in the States. I don’t trust any of them to be honest about it, but the key is that they do respect Trump and not the current turds in the leadership positions of the US right now! And that is because Trump knows how to play hardball, as well wrote about the “Art of the Deal” he being a great negotiator and while Biden is only a stupid ass criminal crook, as well the dumb broad Harris is that and some other things I won’t elaborate on but you get my drift! And they are only the “tip of the spear” or the humongous “Iceberg of Corruption” known as the “Commie Democrat Party Deep State Cabal” that absolutely can’t do any good; so why go down with them these foreigners figure, which is smart on their parts!