Are Europeans 'pathetic European free loaders'?

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WhatsApp chat released today from the US calling Europeans 'pathetic European free-loaders'.

One of our closest allies! What about support from European countries after September 11th?

AIBU to expect more professional language?

The US has certainly forcefully told the EU to increase NATO spending in the past.

But there was never a suggestion that the US would ally itself to Russia. American officials now parrot Kremlin talking points as a matter of course. Russian spokespeople celebrate that.

No previous President would have said that he admired Erdogan or Putin,

It is a striking difference with previous US administrations.

I don't think Trump actually knows what his incompetent idiots are doing. It was new to him.

Fair point. We deal with the consequences far less than neighbouring countries but far more than the USA.

He is not in charge then?

His WH Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, was on the chat

But the American Dream is largely a myth. It has one of the lowest (if not the lowest) rate of social mobility in the developed world. “The American Dream” is more possible for more people in many European countries.

I think it is abundantly clear that to the US "special relationship" means with Russia.

Well the fact we’ve isolated ourselves from our closest neighbours via Brexit, makes that a little difficult.

However rejoining the customs union will fix that.

Except Britain. Good luck rising to head of state here.

In a small quarter of American politics (and their voters) that Europeans have been sucking America dry since the first world war, and that "if it wasn't for us y'all be speaking German now".* It's like they haven't moved on in 100 years.

*I heard a Yank say this to a Belgian on a train in Belgium once, loudly & very proud.

And were he eligible, he would be re-elected in 2028 because he is saying what appeals to large swathes of Americans who have little knowledge of what goes on in the next State over, never mind across the Atlantic.

Flippin 'eck, those millions and millions of Americans must be so thick, mustn't they? Like the BBC regularly points out only the stupid ones vote for Trump, all the educated ones voted for Biden.

Press secretarty Leavitt has taken to X for lying her way through it

I've had this diatribe in the US, how they were the saviours of the world, especially in WW2. When I told them 'Had not America sat on its arse for three years during WW2, millions would have been saved' they were furious, how dare anyone contradict them!. T
hey also don't like being told that their space programme existed because of all the Nazi scientists they took to America to work on it, the skills were not there before, the Nazis had been experimenting by bombing the UK.

A journalist now knows more about US national security than the President

Your interpretation, not mine. If the Democrats don't get their act together, and it's probably too late for 2028, then America will have Trump-the-sequel for 8 years in the form of Vance.

JudgeJ · Today 13:47

And that's not to mention the Japanese germ and chemical warfare scientists, who killed millions of Chinese and other nationalities, with their evil "experiments."

Yes, just send them "thoughts and prayers" in the same way their government do when there is yet another school shooting.

You can't believe everything the supposed media says. I'm in the US and I LOVE YOU! 😍

@JudgeJ and if it wasn’t for the fact the gvt and individuals have access to seemingly vast amounts of credit a lot of them would be in massive schtuck too - I was amazed when I read what the average family credit amounts were-

I disagree. Our Governments let Amazon, Meta, Tesla, X exploit our markets pretty much unfettered and in some cases, with long term negative implications.

So depends on how you define “freeloading” - those companies freeloaded off us.

He’s a bully and checking how provocative he can be. Sadly not with just words but also actions.

I think the next world war is inevitable unless he dies or something some time soon. And I am sure people who voted him in (as well as supporting him from other countries) will still not connect the dots.

Pathetic European freeloaders"? A harsh label, certainly but the question it raises is one of power dynamics and dependency. The United States has long viewed itself as the dominant force, bearing the weight of global responsibility, and now, in a moment of shifting tides, frustration bubbles to the surface.

Europe’s contributions to global stability after events like September 11th cannot be dismissed. It's high time for the continent to evolve beyond passive reliance and assert a more independent, robust presence on the global stage. Allies should contribute, yes but true strength lies in self-sufficiency. It’s a lesson everyone needs to learn, even the so-called "greatest" powers.

Sometimes the clothes do not make the man.

Anyone high up in US govt shouldn't be describing Europe/Europeans this way. We are supposed to be allies.

That said, when trump visited London in 2018, Sadiq Khan gave permission for a giant orange helium balloon of a baby Trump, naked but for a nappy. I thought at the time that this was an utterly disgraceful action for a mayor to condone. Highly disrespectful to a long time and very strong ally - regardless of the political beliefs of anyone.

So on balance, why should we be able to dish out disrespectful behaviour and not expect to be called pathetic freeloaders in return?

And before we start on about strengthening our ties with Europe, defence, and whatever - let's not forget that our idiotic population voted for Brexit.

So yes, the actions of the US govt are disgraceful. But our actions are disgraceful as well. So seems all square to me.

To be fair to Trump, his instructions were to "get it done". He didn't give a shit about the specifics or want to be on that chat.