A return to the White House for former President Donald Trump Donald is “clearly a threat” to Europe judging by the America-first nature of his policies last time, European Central Bank (ECB) president Christine Lagarde cautioned Thursday.
The French globalist lawyer turned career bureaucrat made her claim of a potential misalignment between a less malleable Trump and Europe in an interview with France 2.
In doing so she broke with the tradition for central bank bosses to steer clear of politics, much less commenting directly on foreign elections.
However, her comments encapsulate the rising anxiety among European leaders that a Trump victory in November’s election would lead to an independent, less Europe-focussed administration in the White House, one less likely to be at the beck and call of Brussels on a host of issues.
The ECB president said a return of Trump was likely to put the U.S. at odds with Europe in several areas, including trade protectionism, military support for NATO and the fight against climate change, the outlet detailed.