Trump praises EU Commission chief, awaits meeting

US President Donald Trump heaped praise on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on May 8.

“She’s so fantastic. She is fantastic. I hope we’re gonna meet,” the US president said during a press conference, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The US president’s remarks came amid ongoing trade tensions, following the imposition of 20 per cent reciprocal tariffs on EU goods by his administration. Trump suggested the EU was eager to reach an agreement. “They want to make a trade deal very badly,” he said.

The two leaders have previously met only once—briefly—at the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26. During that encounter, they were seen chatting and shaking hands.

“In their brief exchange, President von der Leyen and President Trump agreed to meet,” European Commission spokeswoman Paola Piñho confirmed in a post on X following the event.

By Sabina Mammadli