Former Serbian ambassador Nebojša Vujović sharply criticized Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić over his recent opinion piece published by Fox News, in which Vučić praised U.S. President Donald Trump and his leadership style.
According to Vujović, Vučić’s article was not an expression of political admiration, but rather a reflection of his desire to preserve power at any cost.
“Vučić is not in love with Trump. He is narcissistically and incurably in love with himself and driven by a twisted desire to remain in power,” Vujović told Danas.
In the Fox News op-ed, Vučić wrote that during his travels across Serbia, he noticed what he described as a rare phenomenon in Europe — what he called a “genuine enthusiasm” for Donald Trump’s leadership.
“My opinion of Trump was shaped during his first term. Trump and his closest associates were willing to seriously and respectfully listen to Serbia’s position without prejudice,” Vučić wrote, recalling White House meetings that lasted for hours during difficult negotiations.
He added that Trump never behaved like the “aggressive bully” often portrayed by critics.
“He was direct, yes, but he listened carefully, was sincerely engaged, and treated Serbia with respect,” Vučić stated.
Vujović dismissed the article as a failed attempt by Vučić to align himself with Trump politically.
“With this text, Vučić effectively broke his chair with Putin, while Europe’s mood is changing and Xi Jinping is far away,” he argued, adding that Vučić wrongly believes he can manipulate Trump’s circle as he does with his domestic electorate.
Another former ambassador, Srećko Đukić, also condemned Vučić’s article, calling it “humiliating” for Serbia.
“Neither Karađorđe, nor Miloš, nor any Serbian ruler was ever as humble before a foreign leader as Vučić is before Trump. No one embarrasses this nation like him,” Đukić said.
He further accused Vučić of “crawling before every major foreign leader,” including Trump, Putin, Xi Jinping, and Macron.
Meanwhile, Konstantin Samofalov, international secretary of the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), claimed that the true purpose of Vučić’s article was to undermine Serbia’s European path.
“The essence of Vučić’s writing is another attack on the European Union, with the goal of ensuring Serbia never becomes a truly organized European state,” Samofalov stated.
He also criticized Vučić’s recent proposals, alongside Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, suggesting Serbia could benefit from access to the EU common market without full membership.
