Leaked Chat Exposes Trump Team’s Fury Over Europe
A leaked exchange among top Trump administration officials, accidentally shared with a journalist from The Atlantic via a public messaging app, has exposed the deep-seated resentment within the U.S. government toward European allies. The messages, which discussed a planned military strike against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, revealed a striking hostility toward Europe—not for its policies, but for its perceived dependence on American support.
The conversation included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who debated whether the U.S. should proceed with the operation. The Houthis had been disrupting global shipping routes in the Red Sea for months, threatening international trade. But Vance argued against the strike, not on strategic grounds, but because it would primarily benefit Europe.
“I think we are making a mistake,” Vance wrote. “Three percent of U.S. trade runs through the Suez, compared to 40 percent of Europe’s. I’m not sure the president realizes how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe.” His frustration was unmistakable: “I just hate bailing Europe out again.”
Hegseth, while supporting the strike, echoed Vance’s disdain. “I fully share your loathing of European free-loading,” he replied. “It’s PATHETIC.” The compromise? The U.S. would carry out the operation—but send Europe the bill. Waltz confirmed the plan: “Per the president’s request, we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the costs and levy them on the Europeans.”
The leak underscores the Trump administration’s increasingly confrontational stance toward Europe, particularly on defense spending and support for Ukraine. Vance has been a vocal critic, accusing European nations of relying too heavily on American military protection. His sentiments were reinforced by a White House envoy, who recently declared, “Europe is dysfunctional today… Europe is dying, unfortunately.”
For European leaders, the messages are a stark reminder of Washington’s growing impatience. The U.K. and the Netherlands had previously joined U.S.-led strikes against the Houthis, and British forces even provided refueling support for the very operation debated in the leaked chat. Yet the dismissive tone from top U.S. officials suggests that such cooperation may no longer be taken for granted.
The revelations have intensified concerns in Europe about Vance’s influence in shaping U.S. foreign policy. His blunt criticism reflects a broader skepticism within the Trump administration about NATO and transatlantic partnerships. Where Europe sees mutual benefit—intelligence sharing, joint military operations, and collective security—Vance and others see freeloading.
Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt summed up the reaction in Europe: “Another wake-up call for real European defense. When will EU leaders act?” The leak has forced European capitals to confront an uncomfortable truth: the U.S. may no longer be willing to play its traditional role as Europe’s protector.
While embarrassing for the White House, the messages align with the administration’s public rhetoric. Trump has long demanded that NATO members increase defense spending, and his team’s private exchanges confirm that this is not just political posturing—it’s a deeply held conviction.
As tensions simmer, the question for Europe is whether it can unite to bolster its own defense capabilities—or risk further alienation from its most powerful ally. For now, the leaked chat serves as a blunt reminder: in the eyes of Trump’s inner circle, America’s patience with Europe has run out.
