Trump “eats” Von der Leyen for breakfast - Orbán Slams EU-U.S. trade deal as Europe splits over outcome

A new trade agreement between the European Union and the United States has triggered a political firestorm across Europe, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declaring that President Donald Trump “ate” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “for breakfast.”

The deal, struck on Sunday, imposes 15 percent tariffs on most EU imports while committing Brussels to purchase significant quantities of American energy resources — a move Orbán and other critics say represents a humiliating defeat for Europe.

The Hungarian leader did not hold back during his Monday morning podcast. “It wasn’t a deal that President Donald Trump made with Ursula von der Leyen. It was Donald Trump eating Ursula von der Leyen for breakfast,” Orbán said.

Known both for his sharp Euroskeptic rhetoric and open admiration for Trump, Orbán called von der Leyen a “featherweight negotiator,” accusing her of failing to defend Europe’s economic interests at a critical moment.

A growing chorus of criticism

Orbán’s remarks echo a wider backlash spreading across the European political spectrum. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó took to X (formerly Twitter) to argue that the outcome is “another sign that Brussels needs new leadership.” German far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel and French nationalist figure Marine Le Pen also slammed the deal, framing it as proof that Europe had surrendered its leverage to Washington.

But discontent isn’t confined to nationalist voices. Centrist French Prime Minister François Bayrou, who has often defended closer EU-U.S. cooperation, lamented the agreement as a betrayal of European sovereignty. “It is a dark day when an alliance of free peoples, united to assert their values and defend their interests, resigns itself to submission,” Bayrou wrote on X. The unexpected alignment of far-right and centrist critics underscores how polarizing the trade agreement has become within Europe.

Supporters: Better a deal than a trade war

Not everyone views the deal as a defeat. In Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that the agreement prevented a looming escalation that could have devastated the continent’s largest economy. “A no-deal scenario would have hit Germany harder,” Merz stated, highlighting the vulnerability of German exports to American tariffs.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the arrangement “sustainable,” suggesting that while imperfect, the deal provides a foundation for longer-term stability in transatlantic trade relations. Leaders in Brussels also stressed that avoiding a broader trade war was the paramount objective, even if it meant accepting concessions.

What the deal means for Europe

Under the terms agreed Sunday, Washington will levy a 15 percent tariff on a wide range of EU goods, a measure designed to protect American industries facing mounting competition. In return, the EU has pledged to purchase more American energy, including natural gas and oil — a move that some analysts say reflects Europe’s lingering dependence on U.S. resources after the disruptions of recent years.

Critics argue the agreement tilts heavily in America’s favor. “Brussels went into this negotiation with the cards in its hands and came out empty-handed,” one EU diplomat, speaking anonymously, told reporters. “We needed relief on tariffs, and instead we got commitments to buy American products.”

For Orbán and other Euroskeptics, this outcome is evidence of a leadership crisis at the heart of the EU. They argue von der Leyen lacked both the political weight and negotiating skill to confront Trump, who has long boasted of his “America First” approach to trade policy.

Orbán’s Trump card

Orbán’s commentary carries added weight given his close relationship with the former U.S. president. The Hungarian leader has frequently praised Trump’s hardline stance on immigration and his combative style in international affairs.

By framing von der Leyen as a weak negotiator outclassed by Trump, Orbán not only criticizes EU leadership but also strengthens his own narrative that Europe needs bolder, more assertive figures in charge.

Orbán has also pointed to the U.S.-U.K. trade deal as an example of better negotiating strategy, suggesting Britain extracted more favorable terms than the EU. “The contrast could not be clearer,” Orbán said. “London secured gains. Brussels secured obligations.”

A divide with long-term consequences

The fallout from the deal may extend well beyond the immediate question of tariffs and energy purchases. Analysts warn that the episode could deepen divides within the EU over how to handle Washington, particularly if Trump secures a second term in the White House.

“For many in Europe, this feels like déjà vu,” said Dr. Marianne Keller, a professor of European politics at the University of Bonn. “Trump has always taken a transactional approach to alliances. The question now is whether Europe adapts by becoming more independent or continues to rely on the U.S., even at significant cost.”

Some member states appear ready to accept a transactional relationship as the price of stability, while others — led by figures like Orbán — insist Europe must resist becoming a junior partner. The tension between these visions is likely to intensify as the EU faces other challenges, from energy security to the war in Ukraine.

Von der Leyen under pressure

For von der Leyen, the criticism could hardly come at a worse time, since her leadership is already under scrutiny. Detractors argue that the trade deal may erode confidence in her ability to defend European interests.

So far, von der Leyen has defended the agreement, emphasizing that it prevented a damaging escalation and preserved the foundation of transatlantic cooperation. Her office issued a statement Monday describing the deal as “a pragmatic solution in challenging circumstances,” while declining to comment directly on Orbán’s remarks.

Conclusion: Breakfast or Business as Usual?

Whether history judges Sunday’s agreement as a humiliating defeat or a pragmatic compromise will depend on how its consequences play out in the coming months. For Orbán and other critics, however, the verdict is already in: Brussels capitulated, Trump dominated, and Europe paid the price.

The image of the U.S. president “eating von der Leyen for breakfast” may prove a lasting metaphor for Europe’s struggle to assert itself on the global stage.