It's Donald vs Donald: Trump to meet Tusk during US president’s first visit to Europe
DONALD Trump is set for an awkward meeting with Donald Tusk when the US president visits Europe for the first time since last year’s election.
Tusk says Trump presidency brings "new challenges" to EU
The pair have not got off to the best start after Mr Trump repeatedly laid into the European Union (EU) during his presidential election campaign, while European Council President Mr Tusk warned the US was a threat to Europe.
But now Washington and the EU are in talks about the two Donalds meeting in May when Donald Trump flies into Brussels for a NATO leadership summit and then to Sicily for a G7 meeting.
It comes amid growing tensions between the President and the bloc after Jean-Claude Junker threatened Mr Trump to stop his anti-EU rhetoric or risk starting a war.
Donald Trump and Donald Tusk are expected to meet in May
Jean-Claude Juncker recently hit out at Trump
They have done a very good job and - I am meeting with them very soon
The President of the European Commission’s stinging attack on the US president came after Mr Trump praised Brexit and encouraged other countries to follow in Britain’s footsteps and leave the embattled Union.
Meanwhile, ahead of a summit in Malta over the future of the EU, Mr Tusk sent a letter to the 27 member states telling them to stand together in challenging times - and calling the US a threat to Europe.
He wrote: “The change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy.”
He went on to cite “worrying declarations by the new American administration.”
Donald Trump SNUBS Angela Merkel handshake at White House
Donald Trump has been more complimentary of the EU in recent weeks
Tusk warned the US is a threat to Europe
However, Mr Trump struck a more conciliatory tone during a recent interview with the Financial Times when he spoke of his previous threats that he bloc would fall apart post-Brexit.
He said: "If you would have asked me that the day after the election I would have said, ‘Yeah, it will start to come apart’.
“But they have done a very good job and - I am meeting with them very soon - they have done a very good job in bringing it back together.”