Ursula von der Leyen has declared ‘the West as we knew it no longer exists,’ taking aim at US President Donald Trump‘s chaotic administration and its team of ‘bros’ and ‘oligarchs making the rules’.
The President of the European Commission, 66, painted a grim picture of transatlantic relations to German newspaper Die Zeit, contrasting Washington’s tariffs and unpredictable behaviour to the EU’s commitment to global trade.
‘The West as we knew it no longer exists,’ von der Leyen said bluntly.
‘Everyone is asking for more trade with Europe – and it’s not just about economic ties. It is also about establishing common rules and it is about predictability,’ she said. ‘Europe is known for its predictability and reliability, which is once again starting to be seen as something very valuable.’
She then took a swipe at Trump’s inner circle of tech titan and power broker ‘bros’ such as Elon Musk, comparing them to Russian oligarchs.
‘We don’t have bros or oligarchs making the rules,’ she fired. ‘We don’t invade our neighbours and we don’t punish them,’ in a dual jab at Trump’s trade war antics and Putin‘s aggression in Ukraine.
The remarks mark a clear shift in tone from Brussels, which has long walked a diplomatic tightrope with Washington.
But von der Leyen, a former German defence minister, appears to be defending a ‘stronger Europe’, claiming it is the best place for democracy, equality, healthcare and for the middle class.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declared ‘the West as we knew it no longer exists’
She compared Trump’s inner circle of tech ‘bros’ such as Elon Musk to Russian oligarchs
Trump greets Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk during a rally the day before Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated for a second term, in Washington, January 19, 2025
‘In Europe, children can go to good schools however wealthy their parents are. We have lower CO2 emissions and higher life expectancy,’ she said, adding that ‘controversial debates are allowed at our universities’.
It was a thinly veiled shot at Trump’s culture war with academia and ongoing battles over freedom of speech on US campuses.
She also hit out at rising inequality across the Atlantic, highlighting what she called Europe’s ‘stronger, broader middle class’, adding: ‘Inequalities are less pronounced here because the levers of power are more widely distributed.’
Trump and his Republican allies, including vice-president JD Vance, have repeatedly attacked the EU as anti-democratic, elitist and weak on borders.
Vance has even accused the EU of ‘cancelling elections’ and muzzling right-wing populism through legal and media pressure – including against Germany’s far-right AfD.
Vance is due to visit Rome on Good Friday to hail Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition as ‘the future of Europe’.
She, in turn, will meet Trump on Thursday to press for a trade truce – and remind him that her voice was instrumental in convincing the EU to pause retaliatory action on his now delayed tariffs.
Meloni will repeat the EU’s offer to buy more American liquefied natural gas and weapons as well as a ‘zero tariffs for zero tariffs’ agreement on industrial products.
Trump and his Republican allies, including vice-president JD Vance (pictured right), have repeatedly attacked the EU as anti-democratic, elitist and weak on borders
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni will visit Washington on Thursday to press for a trade truce – and remind Trump that her voice was instrumental in convincing the EU to pause retaliatory action on his now delayed tariffs
Trump, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and his son, arrive on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington
In return she is hoping for a truce on an existing 10 per cent tariff and a promise of trade negotiations between the US and EU.
Trump backed down on tariffs hitting £328bn of European imports after financial market turbulence that wiped trillions off the value of US stocks.
But despite the political storm, von der Leyen insists Europe is emerging as the world’s safe haven of stability.
In what sounded like a thinly veiled thank-you to Trump for exposing the fragility of Western unity, she said: ‘It’s often easier to see your own strengths in somebody else’s mirror.’
Europe, she said, is open for business – but also for families, retirees and those in need of healthcare.
‘You can make money anywhere in the world,’ she concluded. ‘But where do you want to raise your children? Where do you want to be if your health isn’t great? When you get older?
‘There are many very good answers which Europe has to offer.’
Von der Leyen highlighted that while 13 per cent of global trade was with the US, 87 per cent was with other countries. ‘They all want predictability and reliable rules. Europe can deliver that’.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .