President Donald Trump is set to host French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House on Monday, in a meeting that underscores deep uncertainties over the future of transatlantic relations.
The talks come as President Trump has reshaped U.S. foreign policy, sidelining European leaders from efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. His administration has also pursued controversial geopolitical ambitions, including seeking control over Greenland, Gaza, and the Panama Canal, as well as striking a deal with Ukraine over rare mineral resources.
Trump’s “America First” agenda, just over a month into his second term, has alarmed veteran diplomats and former officials, who warn that the U.S. may be abandoning its long-standing role as a stabilizing force in global politics.
Ian Kelly, former U.S. ambassador to Georgia, expressed concern over the administration’s approach, stating: “Eighty years of policy to stand against aggressors has been thrown away without discussion or reflection.” He criticized Trump’s strategy as “peace through surrender” rather than “peace through strength.”
The meeting with Macron coincides with the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, Trump is scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, another key European leader.
Trump’s repeated criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has further unsettled European allies. The U.S. president has pushed for an agreement granting American companies access to Ukraine’s rare mineral deposits—resources crucial for aerospace, medical, and tech industries.
European leaders were also caught off guard by Trump’s decision to send senior aides for preliminary talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia—without Ukrainian or European representatives present.
While Zelenskyy initially rejected the minerals deal due to a lack of security guarantees, he later stated on X that “progress is being made” and emphasized Ukraine’s need for “a strong economic agreement as part of a real security guarantee system.”
Trump administration officials claim they expect to finalize a deal this week that would deepen economic ties between the U.S. and Ukraine—an outcome strongly opposed by Russia.
