Trump’s new EU foil: Another ‘strong female German leader’

Ursula von der Leyen has called Donald Trump’s discussions of NATO “immature,” questioned why he wants to be a “best buddy” with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and even suggested the president is uncomfortable with strong female leaders.

Now she’ll be his main counterpart in the European Union.

On Tuesday, von der Leyen became the European Commission’s next president, narrowly winning election in the European Parliament. The new role for von der Leyen, who headed Germany's defense ministry for six years before she resigned on Wednesday, will put her at the forefront of negotiations with the U.S. over trade, technology and other major issues. But while von der Leyen has many admirers among American and European national security officials, even some of her fans worry that her ascent to the commission presidency will further fray the tenuous U.S.-EU relationship under Trump.

“That job was going to be tough for anyone, especially since Trump has called the EU a ‘foe,’” said Julie Smith, a former Obama administration official who closely follows the transatlantic relationship. “But putting a strong female German leader at the head of the commission will likely make it all the more difficult for the EU to strengthen ties with the Trump administration.”

Von der Leyen’s rise to the EU Commission presidency was a surprise. She was not one of the original lead candidates put forth by major political blocs but emerged as a consensus pick when European leaders found themselves at loggerheads after days of fruitless meetings.

When von der Leyen next visits Washington, she may have to tread carefully, given her many characteristics likely to give Trump pause.

Von der Leyen, often referred to as VDL, is close to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has long had a tense relationship with Trump. The president has chided Merkel on everything from Germany’s trade practices to its acceptance of some 1 million refugees.

Von der Leyen has suggested that Trump’s uneasiness toward Merkel may be because he’s not used to dealing with strong female leaders.

"A woman like Angela Merkel, a globally respected head of government with a long experience, probably did not exist in his worldview until now," von der Leyen told the Spiegel news outlet.

Trump’s biggest frustrations with Merkel were often centered on a topic of authority for von der Leyen: German defense spending. Trump has repeatedly criticized Germany for not spending at least 2 percent of its GDP on defense, as NATO countries have pledged.

The issue can cut both ways for von der Leyen.

During her tenure as German defense minister, Berlin upped its defense spending in absolute terms. But von der Leyen’s calls for more spending ultimately hit roadblocks, including among German lawmakers. The country said last year that it would not meet its original goal of hitting the 2 percent threshold by 2024.

Von der Leyen has many fans in the defense establishment on both sides of the Atlantic, some of whom say she was always frank about what could be accomplished. Several noted that von der Leyen has lived in the U.S. before and is fluent in English — one of several languages she speaks — which has helped her navigate Washington.

“She’s pragmatic, she’s realistic, she’s a hard worker and she’s tough,” said Rachel Ellehuus, who served as a top aide to former Trump administration Defense Secretary James Mattis. “She never over-promised and under-delivered.”

A NATO official, singing similar praises, also downplayed concerns about von der Leyen’s ability to deal with Trump, saying her “panache” will win him over.

“Trump does like women with panache,” the official said on condition of anonymity. “His own household is evidence of that.”

Despite Trump’s rocky relationships with so many of Europe’s leaders, the president did get along relatively well with Jean-Claude Juncker, whom he called a “brutal killer” and a "great businessman."

Juncker, who hails from Luxembourg and is about as internationalist as they come, managed to somehow charm Trump and convinced him last year to sign on to moves that would de-escalate a growing U.S.-EU trade war. At one point, he reportedly told Trump: “If you want to be stupid, I can be stupid, as well.”

Von der Leyen, a 60-year-old mother of seven, will be the European Commission’s first female leader. Asked for comment, an aide to von der Leyen referred to an agenda document she’s circulated, in which she states: “We will work to strengthen a balanced and mutually beneficial trading partnership with the United States.”

Von der Leyen is a strong believer in multilateralism and the European project. That alone could turn off Trump, who is skeptical of international alliances and often stresses the overriding importance of national sovereignty.

Trump has referred to the EU as a “foe” because he alleges it undermines the United States on trade. Last year, Trump seemed to link NATO members’ defense spending with EU trade practices — issues that are traditionally separate. Asked about Trump’s comments, von der Leyen was diplomatically blunt.

"I think this is an immature discussion," she told Bloomberg. "Therefore, I think we should turn the discussion into a mature discussion which disentangles both topics. They are not related to each other.”

Von der Leyen’s defenders note that the next top EU leader does have some nuanced positions that might align her with Trump in key areas.

For instance, even as she is open to more internal European defense cooperation, she has pushed back on the French call for an “EU army,” a concept Trump loathes. She has also said greater European defense cooperation should not compete with NATO — a nod to the ongoing American role in supporting European defense.

“We want to remain transatlantic, but we also want to become more European,” she has said.

Von der Leyen has also sounded tough notes on China, which Trump would appreciate, but also on Russia, a loaded subject for Trump.

Soon after Trump was elected president in November 2016, von der Leyen raised concerns about his friendly overtures toward Russia.

"Donald Trump has to say clearly on which side he is,” she said, according to media reports. “Whether he's on the side of the law, peace and democracy, or whether he doesn’t care about all that and instead he's looking for a best buddy."