Trump election: Juncker warns president may upset US ties with Europe

Donald Trump is due to take over at the White House in January

Donald Trump's election risks upsetting EU ties with the US "fundamentally and structurally", EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has warned.

"We will need to teach the president-elect what Europe is and how it works," Mr Juncker told students in Luxembourg. The Commission chief predicted that two years would be wasted while Mr Trump "tours a world he doesn't know".

Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels earlier this week

His remarks contrasted with other EU leaders' more muted reaction to the Tuesday's shock election result.

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American cities have seen angry protests since Mr Trump's election victory over the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton.

In New York, Mr Trump set about forming the team that will see him through to his inauguration on 20 January, when he replaces Barack Obama in the White House.

EU unease

Mr Juncker had offered his formal congratulations to Mr Trump on Wednesday in a joint statement with Donald Tusk, head of the European Council.

Speaking on Friday, he said: "In general the Americans take no interest in Europe...

"During the campaign, Mr Trump said Belgium was a village somewhere on our continent...
"He raises questions which could have harmful consequences because he calls into question the trans-Atlantic alliance, and thus the model on which Europe's defence rests.

"He takes a view of refugees and non-white Americans which does not reflect European convictions and feelings."