Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who served during Donald Trump’s first term in office, believes the transatlantic relationship is already at rock bottom.
Speaking at an event in Brussels on Tuesday, Juncker humorously responded to a question about the future of EU-U.S. relations under Trump’s second term, saying, “I can’t imagine it getting any worse.” With a laugh, he added, “But we’ll have to accept that the election is over and the Americans have their president.”
Juncker acknowledged that U.S. presidents generally become more cooperative with Europe in their second terms. However, he expressed doubt that Trump would follow this trend. “Whether that will happen with Trump is anyone’s guess. I don’t think he’ll be inspired by the second-term paths of his predecessors,” he said.
Juncker’s term as Commission President (2014–2019) overlapped with Trump’s presidency, a period marked by constant clashes over trade issues like Trump’s steep tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The two had a rocky relationship, with Trump at times labeling Juncker “nasty,” “a brutal killer,” and “a tough, tough cookie.” Yet, Trump also occasionally offered compliments, calling Juncker “a very good man” and praising his business acumen.
