Trump Warns Europe Is Heading in "Very Bad Directions" Amid Growing Transatlantic Tensions

US President Donald Trump expressed serious concerns about Europe's current trajectory during a White House press briefing on Monday, stating that the continent is heading in "very bad directions."

Speaking to reporters, Trump emphasized his desire to "keep Europe Europe" while criticizing what he perceives as troubling developments across the Atlantic.

"Europe has to be very careful. They're doing a lot of things," Trump remarked. "Europe is going in some bad directions. It's very bad, very bad for the people. We don't want Europe to change so much. They're going in some very bad directions."

The President specifically mentioned a recent $140 million fine imposed by the European Union against Elon Musk's platform X, calling it "nasty" while admitting he wasn't fully informed about the details. "I don't think it's right," Trump said about the fine, though he clarified that "Elon has not called me to ask for help on that one."

Trump's comments follow the release of his administration's new national security strategy last week, which contained sharp criticisms of Europe, describing it as over-regulated and facing "civilizational erasure" due to migration patterns. The document controversially stated that the Trump administration would be "cultivating resistance to Europe's current trajectory within European nations."

The growing rift between Washington and European capitals also extends to Ukraine policy, with European leaders increasingly concerned that the US might pressure Kyiv into territorial concessions to Russia to end the conflict.

Moscow has responded positively to Trump's strategic shift, with the Kremlin stating on Saturday that the new US security approach is "largely consistent" with Russia's own vision.

Trump's stance toward Europe appears to align with views expressed by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has frequently made controversial statements about migration in the EU. After X received its substantial fine for violating EU digital regulations, Musk suggested the bloc should be "abolished" – comments that Brussels officials dismissed as "completely crazy."