Portrait of Ursula von der Leyen
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Ursula von der Leyen on Donald Trump

Cautious transatlantic partner (moderate)

TL;DR

Ursula von der Leyen seeks pragmatic engagement with Donald Trump while prioritizing the unbreakable bond of the transatlantic alliance.

Key Points

  • She described a 2020 meeting with Donald Trump in Davos as a good opportunity to connect personally and compare notes on trade, technology, and energy.

  • The former President's call for Iranian regime change was noted as being initially supported by the European Commission president.

  • Following a meeting, both sides agreed to meet soon in Washington to advance the common transatlantic agenda.

Summary

Ursula von der Leyen has acknowledged the need for constructive engagement with Donald Trump, emphasizing the importance of the transatlantic partnership. Following an initial meeting in Davos in January 2020, she described it as a positive exchange of views between allies, focusing on moving the common agenda forward on trade, technology, and energy. She underlined the unbreakable bonds between the societies and economies, signaling a commitment to a working relationship despite potential policy differences.

However, there is evidence of divergence on specific foreign policy matters, such as in one analysis suggesting that she initially supported the former President’s call for regime change in Iran, contrasting with a more principled stance taken by some other European actors. This indicates a navigation between maintaining the crucial alliance relationship and upholding the EU’s independent foreign policy and international law perspectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ursula von der Leyen's position centers on pragmatic engagement, prioritizing the strong transatlantic relationship despite ideological or policy differences. She views the connection between the EU and the US as built on unbreakable bonds of friendship and cooperation.

Yes, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with U.S. President Donald J. Trump in Davos on January 21, 2020. She viewed this initial encounter as a friendly exchange of views between allies.

She stated she was looking forward to working with him on future opportunities and challenges, expressing conviction that they could engage in a positive U.S.-EU agenda. Both leaders agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in Washington.