UPDATE - French, German leaders vow ‘stronger European unity’ in wake of Trump's US win

UPDATES WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR’S STATEMENT, CHANGES HEADLINE, EDITS THROUGHOUT, ADDS BACKGROUND

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have pledged to strengthen European unity and solidarity in the wake of Donald Trump's projected victory in the US presidential election.

On Twitter, Macron said he and Scholz discussed the election results during a Wednesday morning phone call.

"We will work for a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe in this new context. By cooperating with the United States of America and defending our interests and values," Macron said.

German Chancellor Scholz said European leaders will discuss the outcome of the US election and the future of transatlantic relations at a meeting in Budapest on Thursday.

“In recent years, all European countries have taken on more responsibility for the security of our continent, for supporting Ukraine, for Europe's independence in economic and energy matters,” he told reporters in Berlin.

“These are and will remain issues in which we as Europeans have common interests with the United States. We will continue building on this,” he added.

In his first term as president, in 2017-2021, Trump publicly criticized European allies for not sharing the financial burden of NATO but shifting the burden onto American taxpayers, and threatened to pull US troops out of Europe. Trump and his Republican Party have been far less supportive of helping Ukraine in its fight against Russia's military aggression.

Scholz has acknowledged political differences with Trump on a number of issues, but emphasized that they will hold talks with the incoming administration in the coming weeks to bridge differences and align positions.

“Germany remains a reliable transatlantic partner,” he stressed, adding that Germany will continue to assume responsibility, make strong contributions to transatlantic partnership.

“Germany and the US share a partnership and friendship that has grown over decades. We believe that we are better off together. We can achieve much more working together than against each other,” he added.

“Donald Trump secured a decisive victory in the 2024 US presidential election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris and reclaiming the White House for the Republican Party.

According to a race call by the Associated Press, Trump surpassed 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidential election.

"This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again," Trump said In a jubilant speech to supporters in Palm Beach, Florida.