Von der Leyen Delivers EU State of Union Amid US Trade Deal Backlash

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to deliver her State of the Union speech, outlining priorities focused on enhancing Europe's defense capabilities, economic competitiveness, and sustained support for Ukraine amid ongoing tensions with Russia. Her recent trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, which removed EU tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and accepted a 15% U.S. tariff on most EU exports, has sparked significant backlash within Europe, with critics labeling it unbalanced and overly favorable to the U.S. Despite the criticism, EU officials defend the deal as the best achievable compromise to avoid a trade war and maintain vital transatlantic security ties. Von der Leyen also emphasizes Europe's need for strategic independence, aiming to control its own technologies, energy resources, and democratic future in a world characterized by power struggles and imperial ambitions. Her Commission has proposed measures to reduce bureaucracy and improve competitiveness against China and the U.S., though some view these efforts as insufficient, while environmental and left-wing groups warn against potential deregulation harms. Observers note von der Leyen is being unfairly scapegoated for broader EU challenges that require collective leadership beyond her alone.