President Donald Trump labeled the European Union a “foe,” along with Russia and China, for its trade practices, just ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I think we have a lot of foes. I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade. Now you wouldn’t think of the European Union, but they’re a foe,” Trump said in a CBS “Face the Nation” interview at his golf course in Scotland on Sunday.
“Russia is foe in certain respects. China is a foe economically, certainly they are a foe. But that doesn’t mean they are bad,” he added. “It doesn’t mean anything. It means that they are competitive. They want to do well and we want to do well.”
“You know I love those countries. I respect the leaders of those countries,” Trump continued. “But, in a trade sense, they’ve really taken advantage of us, and many of those countries are in NATO and they weren’t paying their bills.”
Trump’s comments come just before a meeting with Putin on Monday in Finland as tensions rise between the U.S. and Russia. The significant meeting is happening just after more indictments of Russian officials in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, The Daily Caller News Foundation reported.
“We have a lot of good things to talk about and things to talk about. We have discussions on everything from trade to military to missiles to nuclear,” Trump said.
“I think we have great opportunities together as two countries that frankly, we have not been getting along very well for the last number of years,” Trump added. “I’ve been here not too long, but it’s getting close to two years, but I think we will end up having an extraordinary relationship.”
Trump also lambasted the E.U. for its immigration policies, saying it has destroyed European countries’ culture and pointed out the spike in terrorism there. (RELATED: Trump Unapologetic: Immigration Is ‘A Very Negative Thing For Europe’)
“I think it [immigration] has been very bad for Europe,” Trump said. “I think Europe is a place I know very well, and I think that what has happened is very tough. It’s a very tough situation. You see the same terror attacks that I do. We see them a lot.”
“And I know it’s politically not necessarily correct to say that, but I will say it, and I’ll say it loud. And I think they better watch themselves, because you are changing culture. You are changing a lot of things. You’re changing security. Look at what is happening,” Trump added. “Take a look at what is happening to different countries that never had difficulty, never had problems. It’s a very sad situation. It is very unfortunate. But I do not think it is good for Europe and I don’t think it’s good for our country.”
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