Trump doesn’t take lightly to traitors. And now he’s got a ton of them on his hands.
Because Europe backstabbed Donald Trump in an act with huge ramification.
The European Union, often criticized for its bureaucratic inertia and reluctance to commit, has abruptly hit the brakes on a major trade agreement with the United States, citing President Donald Trump’s firm warnings against exploiting recent court rulings—exposing what some see as the bloc’s fragility in the face of decisive American leadership.
EU’s Sudden Pause Amid Trade Uncertainty
Following the Supreme Court’s February 20, 2026, decision to invalidate many of Trump’s tariffs imposed via the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the EU announced a halt to the approval process for the Turnberry Deal, struck in July 2025.
Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s international trade committee, declared on social media, “Clarity & legal certainty are needed before any further steps can be taken,” adding that the agreement is “on hold until further notice!”
This knee-jerk reaction came as Trump rolled out a 10% global tariff on all imports effective February 25, with plans to escalate it to 15% once paperwork is finalized, highlighting the EU’s apparent discomfort with adapting to evolving U.S. policies aimed at protecting American interests.
Trump’s Stern Warning to Reluctant Partners
Trump took to Truth Social to caution against opportunistic maneuvers, posting: “Any Country that wants to ‘play games’ with the ridiculous supreme court (sic) decision, especially those that have ‘Ripped Off’ the U.S.A. for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher Tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to.”
In a CNBC interview, Lange accused Trump of violating the deal’s terms, stating, “We wanted to have really stability and predictability. And unfortunately, the government, the president of the United States, has really made a breach of this deal several times. We need clarity, and this is also my clear request for the United States government — give us a certainty that for the next three years, we have no other irritations with new tariffs from the United States, and then we stick to the deal.”
Critics argue this demand for ironclad guarantees reflects the EU’s overreliance on favorable terms, ignoring historical imbalances that have long disadvantaged the U.S.
Broader Fallout from EU’s Hesitation
The Turnberry Deal promised a 15% baseline tariff on EU imports, alongside commitments for the bloc to buy $750 billion in American energy, invest $600 billion in the U.S., and purchase U.S. military gear—provisions that could boost American jobs but now hang in limbo due to the EU’s indecision.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s dissent warned that the ruling “could generate uncertainty” in trade pacts, a prophecy seemingly fulfilled as entities like FedEx sue for tariff refunds. This episode underscores how the EU’s cautious, committee-driven approach might prolong economic tensions, potentially allowing other global players to gain ground while the bloc dithers over perceived slights.
