Donald Trump Jr. sharply criticized the European Union during a visit to Bosnia, warning of a growing divide between Eastern and Western member states.
Speaking at a business event in Banja Luka, Trump Jr. argued that the EU’s liberal policies are discouraging investment and weakening the bloc’s competitiveness.
“Major players in banking, finance, technology, and artificial intelligence believe Europe is in trouble,” he said, adding that meaningful reform would require the EU to stop hindering itself.
Banja Luka is the administrative center of Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose leadership has maintained close ties with both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Trump Jr. visited Bosnia in a private capacity. However, the trip has been widely interpreted as a signal of support for the Bosnian Serb political leadership, which has long advocated greater autonomy and, at times, secession.
Trump Jr. also praised Eastern European countries, saying they have maintained a stronger work ethic and resisted what he described as “woke” ideology prevalent in Western Europe.
“I see this situation creating major cracks within the European Union,” he said, contrasting what he called “common sense” in the East with what he views as a lack of it in Western political discourse.
The visit coincided with a trip by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to Hungary, where he backed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of a contentious election.
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik described the visits as a sign of a broader shift in U.S. policy under President Trump, emphasizing renewed attention to the region and the position of Christian communities in Europe.
Dodik has repeatedly called for the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia and Herzegovina — a move that recalls the tensions leading up to the 1992–1995 war, which left more than 100,000 people dead before ending with a U.S.-brokered peace agreement.
The administration of Joe Biden imposed sanctions on Dodik and his associates in 2022 over separatist actions, citing concerns about renewed instability. The Trump administration lifted those sanctions last year.
The Trump administration has long been critical of the EU, particularly over trade policies and the regulation of the tech sector. These tensions have intensified amid broader geopolitical disputes, including the recent conflict involving Iran.
Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a candidate for EU membership, with the European Union serving as its largest trading partner, investor, and provider of financial assistance.
