‘If you’re weak, he eats you’: Luxembourg’s foreign minister issues advice to EU on handling Trump – Europe live

EU leaders trade minister meet in Warsaw as bloc continues to work handle challenges US president presents

Luxembourg’s foreign minister Xavier Bettel wins the day in Warsaw with the most clear-eyed and entertaining explanation of Trump’s trade policy.

Bettel, who worked with Trump as his country’s prime minister during his first term, had this to say:

If you are weak, he eats you. And if you don’t negotiate, he kills you.

He is losing the appetite on Europe. This is how we should deal with him: be strong, but be united.

It is like a wedding. I was a mayor, I did a lot of weddings before being a prime minister, but I was also a lawyer, did a lot of divorces. The most important thing is to speak together, and when you have problems … to discuss, to be around the table.

I worked for years with him, with Donald, and we survived. And her survived it too. So I am convinced that we are all going to survive and have a strong economy. It is in no one’s interest trying to weaken someone.

And I told you, the best thing is that he is not hungry for Europe.

Usually the cleverest is the one who gives up, but here is something where you would have to answer. If there are attacks, you have to defend.