President Donald Trump is intensifying his already sharp criticism of U.S. European allies, even as he faces pushback from European leaders regarding his administration’s new national security strategy. He’s labeling Europe “weak” and “decaying” while ramping up attacks on its migration policies.

When asked about the strategy— which has sparked outcry from former European officials, with one labeling its rhetoric “far-right”—Trump told Politico in a Tuesday-released interview that if Europe “continues on its current path,” many countries on the continent “will no longer be viable.”

The President claimed European immigration policy is a “disaster,” adding that leaders’ focus on being “politically correct” is rendering them “weak.” He also slammed European leaders for their approach to Russia’s war in Ukraine: “They talk but don’t deliver. And the war just drags on and on.”

When asked whether European nations would stay U.S. allies if they shift and appear weaker to him, the President responded, “It depends.”

The national security strategy the White House released late last week echoed these themes in its “Promoting European Greatness” section. It claims Europe faces “the prospect of civilization erasure” and argues many NATO countries will soon be “majority non-European”—a nod to the racist “Great Replacement Theory” conspiracy. The document also pushes for “building resistance to Europe’s current path within Europe” and signals backing for far-right nationalist parties on the continent as “political allies” that want to curb immigration and push back against government “censorship.”

Following the strategy’s release, European leaders have warned the administration against meddling in continental affairs and altering the U.S.’s transatlantic relations approach. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated Tuesday that parts of the document are “unacceptable to us from a European standpoint,” adding Europe must reduce its U.S. dependence amid the worrying shift in Washington’s strategy.

“I don’t see why Americans need to try to save democracy in Europe now. If it ever needed saving, we could handle it ourselves,” Merz said.

António Costa—president of the European Council (which sets the EU’s political direction) and former Portuguese prime minister—condemned what he called the strategy’s “threat to interfere in European politics,” stressing the continent must safeguard its authority over its own matters.

Costa told an event in Paris Monday: “Allies don’t threaten to meddle in each other’s domestic political decisions. The U.S. can’t impose its vision of free expression on Europe… Europe must be sovereign.”

He urged Europe to “protect ourselves not just from our enemies, but also from allies who challenge us.”

Trump told Politico in the Tuesday interview he doesn’t “want to run Europe,” but noted he’s “very involved” on the continent and plans to keep endorsing candidates who share his views in European elections.

While attacking the continent’s leaders and policies, he praised Hungary’s far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (noting he’d previously endorsed him) for his immigration work, and called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “a friend” and “a tough cookie.”

He also singled out Germany and Sweden (claiming their immigration policies have fueled rising crime) as well as London and Paris (saying they’ve changed for the worse).

London Mayor Sadiq Khan—whom Trump called “horrible” and a “disaster” in the interview—hit back Tuesday. “I think President Trump is right about one thing: London is changing. And we’re the greatest city in the world,” Khan told the outlet, adding: “I have no clue why President Trump is so fixated on me. I don’t know what he has against a liberal, progressive, diverse, successful city like London.”  

Trump also slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his approach to peace talks with Russia. He said Ukraine must “play ball,” adding there’s “no doubt” Russia has a stronger negotiating position and “upper hand” due to its size. He also accused Zelensky of “using the war to avoid holding an election.”

“They claim to be a democracy, but at some point it stops being one,” he stated.

Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law—imposed by Zelensky in February 2022 after Russia’s invasion. The Ukrainian leader, elected to a five-year term in 2019, has promised to hold new elections once the war ends.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Sunday that Trump’s national security strategy’s points “align with our vision in many ways.”

Trump’s Politico interview came a day after Zelensky stressed “unity between Europe, Ukraine, and the U.S.” during a meeting with French, German, and UK leaders in London. The Ukrainian president also reaffirmed Monday that his country will not agree to cede any territory to Russia in ongoing peace talks.