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EuroNews posted the following:

‘A deal is a deal’: Von der Leyen hits back at Trump’s latest tariff threat

5 May 2026

The European Union is “prepared for every scenario” if Donald Trump unilaterally hikes tariffs on EU-made cars, says Ursula von der Leyen.

Ursula von der Leyen has hit back at Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat, stressing the United States is constrained by a limit that prevents it from increasing duties on its own.

The US president shocked Europeans last week when he suddenly threatened to raise tariffs on EU-made cars from 15% to 25%, alleging non-compliance.

“A deal is a deal, and we have a deal. And the essence of this deal is prosperity, common rules and reliability,” von der Leyen said on Tuesday in Armenia.

“We want from this work (to achieve) mutual gain, cooperation and reliability. And we’re prepared for every scenario,” she added, hinting at potential retaliation.

The president of the European Commission, who oversees trade policy, said the bloc was “in the final stages” of implementing the pillar of the EU-US trade deal designed to eliminate tariffs on a wide range of American products.

The legislation is being negotiated in the European Parliament, where it has been previously delayed due to Trump’s forceful attempt to seize Greenland from Denmark. MEPs have amended the original text to strengthen safeguards. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/05/05/a-deal-is-a-deal-von-der-leyen-hits-back-at-trumps-latest-tariff-threat

The Europeans are less and less trusting of the United States. Ursula von der Leyen is not the only one who is concerned about that.

Notice also the following:

Europe Can No Longer Trust America

4 May 2026

In his recent interview with the Financial Times, Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, startled many by predicting that Russia might soon test NATO’s resolve to defend its allies. Yet what has ruffled feathers even more was his question about the “loyalty” of the United States as an ally.

Given Poland’s steadfastness over the past thirty years, it is easy to sympathize with Tusk. Regardless of who holds power in Warsaw, Poland has always taken its defense seriously. It has bought U.S.-made military equipment and welcomed U.S. investment—including in nuclear energy.

There is very little that the current administration has done in return for highly reliable allies such as Poland—notwithstanding the recent U.S.-brokered release of a Polish journalist held by Belarus. Polish exports to the United States face arbitrary tariffs. …

Europeans must be ready to push back whenever their interests are threatened, as they did when the Trump administration readied to take over Greenland.

It is also conceivable that voicing questions about the U.S. commitment to Europe, as Tusk did, will help mobilize the European (or Polish) public to do more to prepare for scenarios in which Europe cannot rely on the United States. Yet it can also act as a self-fulfilling prophecy, as any unforced fights with Trump risk accelerating America’s drift away from the continent.

To be sure, the odds that the current presidency is just a fleeting episode in U.S. history, to be followed by a swing back to the post-war norm, are slim. …

As Europeans look ahead, seeking to put the relationship with the United States on a more durable footing, they will have no choice but to think about institutions and institution-building. That means building structures of political, defense, and economic cooperation that can deliver in the absence of U.S. leadership and that could perhaps even provide a deterrent against America’s predatory behavior in the future. https://www.persuasion.community/p/europe-can-no-longer-trust-america

Yes, more and more in Europe are losing trust in the USA.

This is pushing the Europeans away from being allies, and will ultimately turn them into enemies consistent with the prophecies in Lamentations 1:1-2.

Another unintended consequence of Donald Trump’s statements and policies has been to motivate the EU to make trade moves away from the USA that it otherwise would not have taken.

Regarding trade, now notice something from my free eBook titled Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Trade …

The morning after his reelection, I wrote:

 … Europe will get more serious about trade deals with others internationally, such as being more motivated to approve the trade deal with the Mercosur block of South America. …

One of the unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs and other trade matters is that it is motivating nations he has threatened to look to trade more with each other.

Europe will get more serious about trade deals with others internationally …

• Pushing tariffs and other policies that foreign nations do not like is contributing to other nations looking to bypass the USA dollar, as well as trade more with each other and less with the USA. This will further push various globalist’s moves forward without the USA. This is also helping set the stage for the coming European Babylonian Beast to dominate international trade.

Such moves are happening in Europe. Notice the following links:

European Union pushing to move ahead with Mercosur and Asia Trade

European Union’s reputation and influence growing with ASEAN and Central Asian nations

EU makes ‘mother of all deals’ with India–another step to become ‘Babylon the Great’ for trade?

Trump threatens global tariffs, while Friederich Merz works on trade deal with China

EU trying to make a trade deal with the Gulf States: A prelude to deals between the King of the North and the King of the South?

Canada signs enhanced trade agreement with EU

Mercosur agreement goes into effect: Another COGwriter prediction confirmed!

The Europeans are working with many nations to secure stronger trade deals.

Things will not turn out as Donald Trump hopes (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Related to European trade, we put together the following video:

14:33

The Europeans Increasing Trade Presence

While the world has been focused on Iran and related issues, the European Union has been busy working on trade deals all over the world. Southeast Asian nations now trust the EU the most, the EU is Africa’s biggest trading partner, the EU made a trade deal with India, the EU is planning on a trade deal with Mexico, and the EU is about to implement its deal with South American Mercosur nations. Is this prophesied? Will Europe emerge as the end time Babylonian beast power? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these matters.

Here is a link to our video: The Europeans Increasing Trade Presence.