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He also boasted that under his leadership, the United States has become the “most respected country” in the world.
He also boasted that under his leadership, the United States has become the “most respected country” in the world.
What is happening?
U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines on Monday after declaring he’s being humorously referred to as the “president of Europe.”
The remark, made during a signing ceremony at the White House, followed his claim of playing a major role in pushing NATO allies to boost defense spending and backing Ukraine against Russia.
“It’s an honor,” Trump tells reporters
Trump shared the comment with reporters from the Oval Office, noting,
“They have so much respect for the president that they jokingly call me the president of Europe, which is an honor.”
He positioned the nickname as a sign of international admiration for his leadership style and foreign policy efforts.
Boasting about U.S. global standing
The president continued by asserting that the U.S. is now “the most respected country” in the world.
He credited this shift in perception to his leadership, claiming that such respect had been lacking under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Praising his influence over European leaders
Trump pointed to a recent White House visit from key European figures as evidence of his sway.
These leaders came to Washington to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A roll call of Europe’s top officials
Among those attending the meeting were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“I like these people. They’re great leaders”
Trump had warm words for the European officials, describing them as “good people” and “great leaders.”
He called the gathering “a great reunion,” emphasizing that the U.S. had regained international respect under his watch.
NATO spending commitment: From 2% to 5%
One of Trump’s biggest talking points was a reported agreement among NATO allies to raise military spending targets.
“You saw that with NATO, where they agreed to go from 2% to 5%,” Trump said, claiming credit for pushing the alliance toward this financial shift.
What the NATO deal really means
According to Trump, the NATO spending pledge involves a phased increase.
While most countries signed on, Spain reportedly did not.
Of the proposed 5% of GDP, 1.5% can be allocated to “defense-related” areas like cybersecurity or infrastructure—not just traditional military funding.
A renewed focus on Ukraine
The meeting with Zelensky served as a focal point for discussions on defense and unity in the face of Russian aggression.
Trump used the occasion to present himself as a key figure in rallying European support for Ukraine’s war effort.
Positioning for global leadership
Throughout his remarks, Trump framed himself as a strong global figure capable of influencing both military alliances and diplomacy.
Whether in jest or not, the “president of Europe” moniker reinforced his narrative of leadership on the world stage.
