European Council President Donald Tusk hit back after President Donald Trump called the European Union a "foe" of the United States. Tusk defended the close relationship between the US and EU, calling any other characterization of it "fake news". Trump's comments double down on his criticism of NATO member countries at last week's summit. European Council President Donald Tusk hit back after President Donald Trump called the European Union a "foe" of the United States in an interview that aired Sunday. In a Sunday tweet, Tusk said the US and the EU are "best friends" and borrowed one of Trump's most-used phrases, calling any other description of their relationship "fake news." When "CBS Evening News" anchor Jeff Glor asked Trump in an interview taped in Scotland Saturday who is his "biggest foe globally right now", Trump named the European Union, members of which are some of America's oldest and closest global allies. "I think we have a lot of foes," Trump said. "I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade. Now, you wouldn't think of the European Union, but they're a foe." Trump also identified Russia and China as "foes", countries with which the US is grappling with recent indictments in a federal investigation into US presidential election interference and an escalating trade war, respectively. His comments came on the heels of a tense UK tour and just before a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump also publicly bashed the EU on Twitter on his way to Brussels for the 2018 NATO Summit, which Tusk answered with a direct public statement. "Appreciate your allies." Tusk said. "After all, you don't have that many."<doc-sep>European Council President Donald Tusk fired back at President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE after Trump declared the European Union (EU) one of his biggest global foes. Tusk accused Trump of spreading “fake news” with a comment Trump made during an interview with CBS News that aired Sunday. “America and the EU are best friends,” Tusk tweeted. “Whoever says we are foes is spreading fake news.” America and the EU are best friends. Whoever says we are foes is spreading fake news. — Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) July 15, 2018 In the interview, CBS News’s Jeff Glor asked Trump what he considers his biggest foe globally, prompting Trump to lament the EU’s trade policies. "I think we have a lot of foes,” Trump responded. “I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade. Now you wouldn't think of the European Union, but they're a foe.” ADVERTISEMENT The president went on to add that Russia and China are also on his list of adversaries. "Russia is foe in certain respects. China is a foe economically, certainly they are a foe. But that doesn't mean they are bad," he said. "It doesn't mean anything. It means that they are competitive. They want to do well and we want to do well." Trump then said that he could not take a fully combative stance to the EU because “both” of his parents were born there. His mother was born in Scotland, while his father was born in New York. "You know I love those countries. I respect the leaders of those countries," Trump said. "But, in a trade sense, they've really taken advantage of us, and many of those countries are in NATO and they weren't paying their bills." The comments come as Trump continues to target the EU with tariffs on aluminum and steel imports and criticize NATO members over defense spending.<doc-sep>(CNN) — President Donald Trump named the European Union, Russia and China as foes to the United States during an interview at his golf club in Scotland. “I think we have a lot of foes,” Trump told CBS News in an interview segment that aired Sunday on “Face the Nation.” “I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade. Now you wouldn’t think of the European Union, but they’re a foe.” The President added that “Russia is a foe in certain respects. China is a foe economically, certainly they are a foe. But that doesn’t mean they’re bad. It doesn’t mean anything. It means that they are competitive. They want to do well and we want to do well.” Pressed as to why he first listed the EU as a foe, Trump responded, “No, I look at them all. Look, EU is very difficult. … In a trade sense, they’ve really taken advantage of us and many of those countries are in NATO and they weren’t paying their bills(. )” The President has spent the past week touring Europe, taking part in a NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, and later visiting Britain. Trump will take part in a one-on-one summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday.<doc-sep>
President Donald Trump called the European Union a “foe” of the U.S. in an interview that aired Sunday on CBS News’ Face The Nation. “Well I think we have a lot of foes. I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade. Now you wouldn’t think of the European Union, but they’re a foe,” Trump told host Jeff Glor during an interview that took place at a Trump golf course in Scotland. “Russia is foe in certain respects. China is a foe economically, certainly they’re a foe. But that doesn’t mean they’re bad,” he said. “It doesn’t mean anything. It means that they’re competitors. They want to do well and we want to do well.” Trump’s comments come after a tense NATO summit in Brussels, in which Trump made numerous statements antagonizing U.S. allies, suggesting that other NATO countries don’t contribute enough to defense spending. The Trump administration has also recently imposed steep tariffs on a number of goods that effect the E.U. and other U.S. allies like Canada, namely a 25% steel and 10% aluminum tariff that went into effect in June. The president also made his first official visit to the U.K., making controversial comments about Prime Minister Thersea May’s strategy in Brexit negotiations, saying she should sue the E.U. He also said her handling of Brexit would “probably kill” any chance of the U.S. and Britain working out a trade deal. On Monday, Trump will visit Helsinki, Finland, for a one-on-one summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Contact us at letters@time.com.