Trump ate von der Leyen for breakfast, Orban says after EU-US trade deal

By Talha Ozturk

SARAJEVO (AA) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday ridiculed the EU-US trade deal, saying European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was outmatched in negotiations with President Donald Trump.

“This wasn’t a deal - President Trump ate President von der Leyen for breakfast,” Orban said. “Even at first glance, it is obvious to me that this is not an agreement.”

He added that the outcome fell short compared to a similar deal Washington recently reached with the UK. London accepted tariffs of 10% in its trade deal with the US in May.

The agreement, announced on Sunday, will see the US impose a 15% import tariff on most EU goods, half of the threatened rate of 30%. The bloc will also invest $600 billion in the US, and purchase $750 billion in American energy and military equipment.

“It was not a deal that President Donald Trump made with Ursula von der Leyen. The US president is a heavyweight negotiator and the madame president is a featherweight,” Orban said. “The American agreement with the UK is much better than this. The European agreement is worse than the English one. Therefore, it will be difficult to claim it as a success later on.”

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto echoed Orban’s criticism, saying the developments underscored the need for new leadership in Brussels.

Szijjarto accused the European Commission of severely damaging the bloc’s economy through mismanaged tariff policy, arguing that delays in reducing US tariffs had worsened the impact.

“Cutting the fourfold US tariffs back in January could have prevented this major blow,” he said, reiterating Hungary’s call for a shift in EU leadership to better safeguard member states’ economic interests.