Damascus, Dec. 9 (SANA) U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his sharp criticism of Europe, claiming the continent is “going in a dangerous direction,” following the European Union’s $140 million fine against Elon Musk’s e-commerce platform X.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “Europe is going in a very bad direction, and it’s very bad for its people. We do not want Europe to change to this extent. They are taking a very wrong path.”
In response, European Council President António Costa issued a strong warning against U.S. interference in European affairs. According to Radio Monte Carlo International, Costa said, “What we cannot accept is this threat of interference in Europe’s internal political life. The United States cannot replace European citizens in choosing their own good parties from their bad ones.”
Costa emphasized that while Europe remains a close ally and a significant economic partner of the United States, the continent must be “master of its own destiny,” calling on Washington to respect Europe’s sovereignty. “There are differences in our worldviews, but this goes beyond that,” he added, stressing that true allies must act with mutual respect.
The tensions reflect growing divergences between Washington and Brussels following the White House’s release of its new “America First” National Security Strategy. The strategy criticized European immigration policies, warned of Europe’s declining share in the global economy due to China and other rising powers, and cautioned of a potential “civilizational erosion” if current trends continue.
European officials have rejected attempts at interference, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining historic transatlantic relations while insisting that the continent’s political choices remain independent.
