The potential reelection of former U.S. President Donald Trump would be a “threat” to Europe, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned.
“If we are to draw lessons from history, meaning the way he ran the first four years of his mandate, it’s clearly a threat,” Lagarde said Thursday during an interview with TV channel France 2.
“Just look at the trade tariffs, just look at the commitment to NATO service, just look at the fight against climate change,” she added. “If only in these three areas in the past, American interests have not been aligned with European interests.”
But Lagarde added she does not think Trump’s reelection would leave Europe alone in its support for Ukraine, as “there are a number of members of the U.S. Congress who are deeply hostile to the atrocious war that Russia has waged against Ukraine and who will continue to finance and support Ukraine.”
Trump’s potential return to the White House looms over Brussels, striking fear into diplomats — especially as U.S. nationwide polls tease what is likely to be a close race with incumbent President Joe Biden in November’s presidential election.
And just days ahead of the Republican Party’s caucus in Iowa, where Trump is expected to win handily, a senior European official revealed that Trump privately warned years ago that the U.S. would not come to Europe’s aid if it was attacked militarily.
