“The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States, that’s the purpose of it,” he told his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday. “And they’ve done a good job of it. But now I’m president.”
How the European Union Was Designed to Rival the United States
Donald Trump loves dropping bombs—truth-bombs, that is. His recent revelation that the European Union was formed to “screw the United States” has left fact-checkers scrambling to discredit him. Predictably, major publications have rushed to label his statement as ‘false,’ a ‘conspiracy theory,’ and ‘misinformation,’ all while seemingly foaming at the mouth. Expect a flood of articles attempting to ‘debunk’ Trump’s assertion, but history suggests he may not be entirely wrong.
The EU Was Created to Counterbalance the United States
The reality is that the European Union was formed, at least in part, as a counter to American influence. While mainstream narratives paint the EU as a purely peaceful economic and political union, the project was also driven by the desire to reduce the influence of the United States and ensure Europe was not overshadowed by American power.
The architects of the European project, dating back to the post-World War II era, saw America—not Russia—as the biggest threat to European sovereignty. The post-war economic boom in the U.S. cemented its dominance in global finance and trade, and European policymakers feared being relegated to a secondary role in international affairs. Consequently, successive European leaders framed integration as a way to 'stand up' to American power.
European Leaders Have Long Resented U.S. Influence
One of the most notable European politicians to suggest that the European Union was, at least in part, created to serve as a counterbalance to the United States was Jacques Delors, the former President of the European Commission (1985–1995). Delors emphasised that the EU should develop as an independent global power rather than remain subordinate to the U.S. In the early 1990s, he argued that Europe needed to become an economic and political force capable of standing on its own, particularly in the face of U.S. dominance in global finance and diplomacy. Delors made no secret that he hated the U.S. and spent years trying to undermine its influence in Europe.
Charles de Gaulle, also viewed European integration as a way to reduce U.S. influence in Europe. De Gaulle was critical of U.S. hegemony and pushed for European "strategic autonomy" during the 1960s, opposing American influence in NATO and advocating for a more independent Europe.
The EU’s Socialist Economic Model Clashes with U.S. Capitalism
Beyond geopolitics, ideological differences also fueled European efforts to create an alternative to U.S. leadership. The European project has been largely rooted in socialist economic policies, with high levels of state intervention, extensive social welfare programs, and regulatory frameworks that starkly contrast with America’s free-market capitalism. European policymakers viewed the U.S. as a capitalist rival and saw the formation of the EU as a way to challenge American economic and corporate supremacy.
From the European Commission’s repeated antitrust cases against American tech giants to trade policies that favour European industries over American competitors, there’s a clear pattern of economic rivalry. While this is often framed as “competition,” it aligns with the broader objective of making the EU a global superpower in its own right—one that can resist American economic and political dominance.
Now that Trump is back in office, anti-America sentiment is at an all time high in the E.U.
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