Key European ally risks Trump’s wrath by calling president ‘very egotistic and self-centered’

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz risked the wrath of Donald Trump as blasted the U.S, President for being ‘selfish’.

It came in response to Trump’s proposal to tie future American military aid for Ukraine to access to the country’s resources of rare earth minerals.

Scholz said Trump’s move was ‘very egotistic, very self-centered.’ 

He added: ‘The words of US President Donald Trump about the use of Ukraine’s natural resources in exchange for military assistance are selfish.’

Scholz argued the valuable minerals should be sold by Ukraine to pay for what it will need to rebuild after the war.

He also suggested that ‘all of us’ – as in European allies who helped Ukraine – should be allowed access to the materials.

But Ukraine seems more open to the idea of doing it Trump’s way.

Sharing Ukrainian resources with allies is part of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s broader ‘victory plan’ for the war and he’s presented his ideas to foreign leaders, including Trump. 

Ukraine is rich in rare earth minerals such as lithium, uranium and titanium, which are critical in making modern products like car engines.

Trump on Monday pointed to the billions of dollars the United States has invested in the Ukraine, suggesting America should get something in return. 

‘We’re investing hundreds of billions of dollars. They have great rare earths, and I want security of the rare earths,’ he told reporters in the Oval Office. ‘We want a guarantee.’

‘They’re willing to do it,’ Trump added.

His comments come as his administration has put a halt on all foreign aid. Ukraine still has assistance left over from Joe Biden’s administration but may soon need more.

The U.S. has provided $65.9 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Ukraine heavily relies on foreign assistance – both financial and in military equipment – to fight the Russians. 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had harsh words for President Donald Trump

Meanwhile, Scholz also warned the European Union would retaliate and had ‘its own courses of action’ if Trump started a trade war. 

Europeans are worried that tariffs could cause price hikes across the continent. 

Trump threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada over the weekend, claiming they need to do more to defend American borders and stop the flow of fentanyl. 

Negotiations with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resulted in pledges to do just that and now the tariffs are delayed a month.

But Trump also imposed a 10 percent tariff on China, resulting in Beijing announcing retaliatory tariffs on select American imports and an antitrust investigation into Google.

The president said on Monday he planned to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the next few days.

It’s not the first clash between Washington and Beijing under Trump. In 2018, the two sides engaged in a tit-for-tat trade war as Trump raised tariffs and Xi retaliated.