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Trump hurled his tablet across the Oval Office when he couldn’t connect a call: report
The Independent • • world
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump reportedly threw a tablet across the Oval Office in frustration during a failed group call with Canada’s then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in February 2025, early in Trump’s second term.
- The incident occurred during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit and was detailed in a Wall Street Journal exposé highlighting European leaders’ efforts to manage Trump’s unpredictable behavior.
- In January 2025, nearly 30 European leaders held a secret emergency meeting in Brussels to discuss reducing dependence on the U.S., partly prompted by Trump’s threat to use military force to acquire Greenland.
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte employed “flattery diplomacy,” praising Trump and mimicking his communication style to maintain alliance cohesion, a tactic later adopted by other European leaders in their interactions with Trump.
- Despite initial success, European leaders found their influence on Trump waning by late 2025, exemplified by a difficult White House meeting where they failed to secure his support on Ukraine and other policies.
