BRUSSELS : European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has not been invited to the Jan. 20 inauguration of incoming US President Donald Trump, an EU Commission spokesperson said on Friday.
Asked about EU-US ties, Paula Pinho cited a social media message by von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa voicing eagerness to engage in positive interactions with the US.
Asked if they had received a positive response from the US, Pinho said: “Shortly after the elections in the US there had been, there was a call between President von der Leyen and President-elect Trump. And ever since, there were no such contacts.”
“In the meantime, also the president fell sick, but we will, of course, be seeking early contacts with the new administration,” she added.
Pinho also said von der Leyen has not received an invitation to Trump’s 20 inauguration, and if one were to be extended, she would consider it, but no plans in this regard have been made.
Von der Leyen is currently recovering from pneumonia at her home in Hanover, Germany.
During his first term as US president in 2017-2021, Trump was known to often express disdain for European leaders and complain they needed to do more to defend themselves. He is said to have favored the US leaving NATO, according to many inside accounts.
Trump had earlier said he wanted China’s president to attend his inauguration, but said nothing about European Union officials.
