Fico Rejects Politico Magazine's Claims about Trump's Remarks at EU Summit

Bratislava/Brussels, 28 January (TASR) – Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday rejected claims by Politico magazine that on the margins of last week's European Council meeting in Brussels he told some EU leaders about his concerns regarding the "psychological state" of US President Donald Trump, whom he had previously met at Trump's Florida residence Mar-a-Lago. Politico based its claims on five unnamed European diplomats. Fico described the magazine's information as lies. According to two diplomats, the Slovak prime minister used the word "dangerous" when describing the impression made on him by the White House chief during their meeting in Palm Beach, Florida on 18 January. Fico said that he discussed the war in Ukraine, the European Union and bilateral relations with Trump. The extraordinary EU summit in Brussels on 22 January was convened by European Council President Antonio Costa in response to Trump's threats related to Greenland. According to unnamed diplomats, Fico allegedly shared his impressions of Trump during informal discussions with some leaders and senior EU officials, not during the official talks around the table. According to a statement from the Slovak Government Office, the prime minister strongly rejects the magazine's claims. "Nobody heard anything, nobody saw anything, there are no witnesses, but nothing stopped Politico from coming up with lies," said Fico. Four of the five sources cited by Politico reportedly come from four different EU governments, while one is a senior EU official. All of them noted that they don't know the details of what Trump specifically said to Fico. However, according to one diplomat, Fico appeared to be "traumatised" by his meeting with Trump, who had allegedly been "out of it". This wording was reportedly used by Fico, according to a diplomat who said that he heard it from one of the participants in the conversation. "I didn't speak at the informal summit in Brussels, just like other prime ministers. For example, not a single one from the V4 [the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia] did. I openly criticised this summit, its preparation and its convening. At the summit I did not, even informally, speak to any prime minister or president about my visit to the USA," added Fico in the statement, stressing that "if I need to express a critical opinion, I don't need mouthpieces". Politico stated in the article, before Fico's response on Wednesday, that it had repeatedly tried to obtain a reaction from the Slovak prime minister's spokespeople to the sources' claims, but without success. By contrast, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kellyova did provide comments. "These are absolutely false reports from anonymous European diplomats trying to be important. The meeting at Mar-a-Lago was positive and productive," she said. Politico also quoted a senior official from Trump's administration who was present at the meeting with Fico. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that he didn't recall any awkward moments or inappropriate exchanges. According to him, the meeting, which was requested by Fico, was pleasant and normal and included several informal discussions that were captured by a White House photographer. Fico himself had previously described the reception at Trump's Florida residence as a sign of respect and trust, adding that the meeting took place in an informal spirit. mf/df