Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as White House communications director during Trump's first term, says European leaders are using the wrong strategy with U.S. President Donald Trump. He made the remarks in an interview with WELT AM SONNTAG, which like POLITICO is part of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network.
Scaramucci contrasted two approaches. He said NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is "making a big mistake." In his words, "when you equivocate or flatter him, when you act in the manner that Mark Rutte has acted, all you're doing is losing his respect. You're not gaining anything." He said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney "is handling him better," adding that "the Canadian people are with him, even if it causes some level of economic hardship."
Rutte has praised Trump. In an interview with POLITICO this summer, he said, "I just like the man. I think what he is doing for NATO is great news."
The report notes that European leaders have yielded to Trump on several points. It cites the EU-U.S. trade deal, which critics said favored Washington, and the 5% of GDP defense spending target by 2035 that allies agreed to at last year's NATO summit in The Hague, which matched Trump's demand. By contrast, Carney walked away from U.S. trade talks, saying Ottawa could not accept the offer or the demands, and promised to match new U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar.
Scaramucci also criticized Republican lawmakers. He said they have been cowardly and have not checked Trump. He said they did nothing to rebuke Trump when he waived key provisions of the Russia sanctions law championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, even though, in Scaramucci's view, they could have overridden him.