Trump Hurls Tablet During World Leader Call as Europe Scrambles to Manage Unpredictable US President
Updated
Updated · The Daily Beast · Jul 6
Trump Hurls Tablet During World Leader Call as Europe Scrambles to Manage Unpredictable US President
3 articles · Updated · The Daily Beast · Jul 6
Summary
A Wall Street Journal report says Trump threw a tablet across the Oval Office during a February group call after a minor glitch left him unable to speak with other leaders.
The episode allegedly happened during Emmanuel Macron’s White House visit, when Trump and the French president were joining a call led by then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The Journal casts the outburst as part of a broader pattern of erratic behavior that has strained US alliances in the 18 months since Trump returned to power.
Nearly 30 European leaders later held a midnight Brussels meeting to discuss reducing security and economic dependence on Washington after Trump floated taking Greenland by force.
Mark Rutte and other European officials then leaned on flattery, tailored messaging and Trump-friendly language on defense, sanctions and Ukraine, though British intelligence later judged the tactic was losing effect.