Trump Criticizes EU's Taxation of US Tech Giants

President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the European Union for what he describes as a 'form of taxation' against American tech companies like Apple, Google, and Meta. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump condemned the EU's regulatory actions and hefty fines, highlighting Apple's €13 billion back tax bill in Ireland and Google's €2.4 billion anti-trust fine. He labeled these as unfair attacks on U.S. businesses, emphasizing their American identity. The EU has intensified scrutiny on these firms under the Digital Markets Act, which can penalize 'gatekeeper' platforms up to 10% of global revenue for rule violations. Ongoing legal and financial disputes mark a significant point of contention between the Trump administration and the EU, potentially affecting U.S.-EU relations. Tech leaders have shown support for Trump, with prominent figures like Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai attending his inauguration.