March 30, 2017•Update: March 30, 2017
By Ayhan Simsek
BERLIN
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker threatened on Thursday to retaliate against U.S. President Donald Trump’s anti-EU rhetoric by promoting the secession of US states.
Addressing a summit of European conservative leaders in Malta, Juncker slammed Trump for his support for Brexit as well as his call for other EU members to follow the U.K. out of the bloc.
“The newly-elected U.S. president was happy that the Brexit was taking place and has also asked other countries to do the same. And if he goes on like that, I am going to promote the independence of Ohio and Austin, Texas, in the United States of America,” Juncker said.
In an interview early this year, Trump described the EU as “a vehicle for Germany”, expressed support for Brexit and predicted more member states would emulate Britain’s decision to leave.
Juncker stressed on Thursday Brexit was not the end of everything in the European Union.
“We must continue, we must forge ahead,” he said, urging unity among the remaining 27 member states, and calling for further reforms to strengthen the EU’s economic and defense capabilities.
“The time has come that we have to convince Europeans that we get off the couch, fast, and move… Otherwise we will face the populists and they will reach the objective first,” he concluded.
