“Stop hitting the snooze button.” Washington claims Europe is finally listening.
The Trump administration has jolted Europe into action, according to the United States ambassador to the European Union, who said Washington’s tougher tone has helped push the continent to reassess its security and migration policies.
Andrew Puzder, the US ambassador to the EU, told Euronews that President Donald Trump and his team have effectively “woken up” Europe from complacency. Speaking on the broadcaster’s Europe Today program, Puzder described Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent address at the Munich Security Conference as both candid and constructive.
“It’s a hallmark of a great diplomat to say the things people need to hear, even if they don’t want to hear them,” Puzder said, characterizing Rubio’s speech as positive for the transatlantic alliance.
Rubio’s remarks came one year after Vice President JD Vance delivered a sharply critical speech at the same conference that unsettled European officials. This time, Puzder said, the audience was “very open,” and Rubio received a standing ovation.
Beyond security, migration featured prominently in the ambassador’s comments. Puzder argued that European policy has moved closer to the American position in recent years. He drew a distinction between what he called “managed migration” and “mass migration,” suggesting that large-scale arrivals over the past decade have created political and social strains across the continent.
When confronted with data showing that migrant arrivals to the European Union have declined from peak levels, Puzder said the broader concern is the cumulative impact of previous migration waves. He framed the issue as a long-term “civilisational challenge,” rather than a short-term numbers debate.
Climate policy also drew scrutiny. Puzder suggested that some European environmental measures may weigh on economic performance and GDP per capita, echoing criticism frequently voiced by the Trump administration.
Rubio’s European tour extended beyond Munich to Slovakia and Hungary, where he met Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, one of Trump’s closest allies within the EU. Asked about concerns over potential US interference ahead of Hungary’s April elections, Puzder dismissed the criticism, noting that Hungary is both a NATO ally and an EU member.
The broader message from Washington is clear: the transatlantic partnership remains intact, but the United States expects Europe to shoulder more responsibility — on security, migration and economic resilience — in what both sides increasingly describe as a new geopolitical era.
