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A leaked group chat involving some of the most senior figures in the Trump administration has revealed deep-seated resentment toward European allies, exposing frustrations over defense spending and security cooperation.
The conversation, which included U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, was inadvertently leaked when the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic was mistakenly added to the chat.
Disdain for Europe laid bare
Among the most striking comments was Hegseth’s blunt remark: "I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s pathetic." The officials were discussing upcoming U.S. airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen—strikes that, according to Vance, would benefit Europe far more than the U.S.
“Three percent of U.S. trade runs through the Suez. Forty percent of European trade does,” Vance wrote. “There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary.”
"I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s pathetic." -U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Waltz chimed in, criticizing the limited naval capabilities of European countries, adding that "it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes." He also mentioned the administration’s intention to calculate the cost of U.S. military actions and “levy them on the Europeans.”
Another participant in the chat, believed to be Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, suggested that the U.S. should consider enforcement measures if Europe fails to pay its share. “For example, if Europe doesn’t remunerate, then what?” he asked.
A growing rift between the U.S. and Europe
The leak comes amid growing tensions between Washington and its European allies. Vance had already raised eyebrows at the Munich Security Conference in February when he accused Europe of being too focused on internal politics and “failing to acknowledge the real threats facing the West.”
Following his speech, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused him of "trying to pick a fight with Europe."
The U.S. vice president further stoked controversy in March when he dismissed the UK and France as "some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years," despite both nations fighting alongside the U.S. in Afghanistan.
Hegseth, meanwhile, has made no secret of his belief that the U.S. is unfairly shouldering Europe’s security burden. In February, he publicly stated that Washington "no longer tolerates an imbalanced relationship" with its allies.
Trump’s tough stance on Europe
President Trump’s skepticism toward Europe is nothing new. Since his return to the White House, he has threatened 200% tariffs on European alcohol, accused the EU of taking advantage of the U.S., and even suggested taking over Greenland, a Danish territory.
His administration’s rhetoric has often echoed Kremlin talking points on Ukraine, further straining ties with European leaders. His tense Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was widely seen as a public snub.
Fallout from the leak
The National Security Council has stated that the leaked chat "appears to be authentic," but so far, the White House has not commented on the remarks.
With tensions already high between Washington and Brussels, this latest revelation is unlikely to smooth relations. Instead, it reinforces fears among European leaders that Trump’s second term will bring even greater unpredictability—and potentially a shift in America’s role on the global stage.
*With information from Euronews
