Biden is referring to how Trump has publicly attacked several European allied leaders, including British Prime Minister Theresa May and particularly German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is fighting for the survival of her government as Trump criticizes her on Twitter using false statistics. "Several of them have spoken to me about what was referred to as his gratuitous criticism of Merkel, who is in a tough spot already," said Biden. "They've never seen anything like that before."
Trump's behavior in private meetings with several European leaders has caused not only offense but also fundamental confusion over whether the president of the United States remains committed to NATO, the liberal world order and the survival of the European Union, Biden said.
One European diplomat told me that in a private White House meeting in March, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven explained to Trump that Sweden, although not a member of NATO, partners with the alliance on a case-by-case basis. Trump responded that the United States should consider that approach. A senior administration official told me Trump was joking.
At the failed Group of Seven summit in Quebec this month, according to the Eurasia Group's Ian Bremmer, Trump disrespected Merkel to her face, throwing two Starburst candies on a desk and saying, "Here, Angela, don't say I never gave you anything." A senior administration official said, "The president has very strong relations with European leaders, but he's willing to take a strong stance to address long-standing issues that do not have easy solutions."
