Donald Trump sparked widespread confusion and online reaction after claiming that European countries “want him to lead them” during an unusual speech at the White House Congressional Ball on December 11.

According to The Independent, Trump opened his remarks by wishing guests a “Merry Christmas” and a “Happy Hanukkah,” before launching into a lengthy monologue highlighting what he described as his accomplishments in office.

The Congressional Ball is a long-standing White House tradition held during the Christmas season, bringing together members of Congress, administration officials, and their families.

During his speech, Trump boasted about what he said was unprecedented investment flowing into the United States and also took aim at former president Joe Biden.

“We already have more than $18 trillion, and I believe by the end of the year it will exceed $20 trillion,” Trump told the audience. “That’s more than any country has ever had, anywhere in the world—by four times.”

He went on to claim that the previous administration attracted less than $1 trillion over four years, adding that he wasn’t trying to be “hostile,” but wanted to “state the facts.”

However, the comments that quickly went viral were those in which Trump suggested that European nations see him as their de facto leader.

“European countries are saying that your president might as well be the leader of Europe,” he said. “They listen to us, and they respect us like never before. We’re going to work very hard.”

Trump added that his administration had strong relationships abroad, while also repeating his long-standing claim that the U.S. had been “taken advantage of” by other countries for years.

“We get along with them. We want to get along with as many nations as possible,” he said. “But we’ve been ripped off by a lot of them for a very long time.”

The remarks prompted a wave of reactions on social media as clips of the speech circulated online.

One user wrote sarcastically: “After countless trips to France since this guy came to power, every French person I meet just says, ‘What is America doing?’”

Another commenter from the UK echoed the sentiment, writing: “Same here. What on earth is he talking about?”

Others speculated that Trump was responding defensively to recent reports suggesting many Europeans now view the U.S. as a national security concern.

Some reacted with humor, with one American joking: “Great. When can we drop him off in Europe?”

Another user dismissed the claim outright, saying: “European nations are not reporting that. He clearly has emperor fantasies.”

The comments come shortly after Trump sharply criticized European leaders in an interview with Politico, labeling them “weak” and “decaying.”

He accused them of failing to manage migration and bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, while suggesting he might support European political figures who align with his own views.

“I think they’re weak,” Trump said. “They want to be politically correct. They don’t know what to do. Europe doesn’t know what to do.”