Donald Trump’s officials call the EU to ask which country will be next to ‘do a Brexit’ – departing US ambassador to Brussels reveals
Anthony Gardner warned the President that supporting the “fragmentation” of the EU would be an act of “sheer folly”
DONALD TRUMP’s top team have asked the EU which country will be next to do a Brexit – Barack Obama’s Brussels envoy claimed today.
Anthony Gardner, the outgoing US ambassador to the EU, tore into the billionaire for appearing to "support the fragmentation" of the bloc.
He said such a policy was "lunacy" and blamed Eurosceptics such as former UKIP chief Nigel Farage for encouraging the Trump administration to support Brexit.
He said officials within the Trump team had even asked EU institutions recently who would follow Britain out of the door.
He revealed: "That was the one question that was asked, basically what is the next country to leave, which is kind of suggesting the place is about to fall apart."
Mr Gardner added: "It’s not a surprise, right? That’s the mentality of this team: this thing is falling apart. Who’s next?"
The interview came a week before the ambassador is booted out of his post on January 20 – the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
He said: "I may as well go out in a ball of flames."
The US ambassador – in post for the past three years – said US support for a Hard Brexit or complete break from the EU single market would be the "height of folly".
And he praised Sir Ivan Rogers for having the courage to speak out about Theresa May’s strategy. Europhile Sir Ivan resigned last week with a scathing attack on the PM’s "muddled" strategy.
Mr Gardner said Sir Ivan had "paid the price"; for being outspoken.