EU minister: Trump administration becoming more ‘realistic and sensible’

The chief finance minister for the euro zone emphasized his growing confidence in President Trump on Saturday, saying the president is becoming “more realistic and sensible.” 

“I would be lying if I say I’d be free of worries so yes I worry about it,” Jeroen Dijsselbloem told CNBC at an international economic forum in Italy on Saturday. “Yet the Trump government seems to become more realistic and sensible. So let’s put out confidence in that.” 

Dijsselbloem is the Dutch Minister of Finance and president of the Eurogroup, the European Union’s economic body consisting of member countries with the Euro as their official currency.

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His comments come amid European concerns over Trump’s nationalist policies.

“If the Americans no longer lead the free world then the Europeans should consider taking that lead,” he said.

Dijsselbloem said that Trump’s apparent reduced interest in internationally-focused policies have created “an opportunity for Europe to step further.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel similarly remarked that the U.S. is receding from its role as the world’s leading power, its important position in the post-World War II order, after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement. 

Trump has also considered withdrawing the U.S. from the North American Free Trade Agreement, which caused tensions with Mexican and Canadian leaders.