"Europe Hate and Disgust" Insults in Trump Administration Chatroom

Europe: "Security Efforts Ignored, Shocking"

Top officials in the Donald Trump administration inadvertently leaked chatroom conversations revealing their outright hostility toward European allies.

Local media including the British daily The Guardian pointed out on the 25th that the leak exposes the depth of the Trump administration's disdain for Europe.

In the chatroom conversation reported by U.S. media, Vice President J.D. Vance mentioned an operation against the Yemeni Houthi rebels, saying, "I think we are making a mistake. Only 3% of U.S. trade goes through Suez. Europe accounts for 40%." He criticized that although Europe faces greater danger from the Houthi threat, the actual attacks are being left to the U.S.

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He told Defense Secretary Pete Hegses, "If you think we have to go, let's go," adding, "I just hate bailing out Europe again."

Three minutes later, Secretary Hegses replied, "Vice President, I share your hatred of Europe's free-riding," calling it "pathetic."

Advisor Waltz pointed out the trade figures and the limited capabilities of the European navy, then posted, "At the president's request, we will discuss with the Department of Defense and the State Department how to calculate and charge Europe for the related costs." This is interpreted as an intention to bill Europe for the operation's expenses.

In Europe, the reaction is one of shock. Critics say that the U.S. ignored Europe's security efforts while downplaying the benefits the U.S. gains from such strikes, including containing Iran.

The Guardian criticized, "The Houthi airstrikes were much more related to the U.S. administration's policy of protecting maritime trade and containing Iran, but Vice President Vance seems determined to push the narrative of Europe's free-riding on U.S. military power."

Politico Europe pointed out, "The participants in the conversation did not mention that the UK is sending aerial refueling tankers to allow U.S. fighter jets to operate over Yemeni airspace, nor that the UK, France, and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies are dispatching warships to the Red Sea to escort merchant vessels and shoot down Houthi drones and missiles."