European Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan | Stephanie Lecocq/EFE via EPA Hogan: No unity with US because Trump ‘wants a grievance’ US president ‘is obsessed with trying to reduce the deficit,’ EU trade commissioner says.

U.S. President Donald Trump wants a fight with Europe because it helps his approval ratings, EU trade chief Phil Hogan said Thursday.

Washington and Brussels have been locked in a chain of tariff attacks against each other since 2018 ranging across goods from steel and aluminum to bourbon whiskey and motorbikes.

"It’s not going to be unity in the short term, because President Trump operates on the basis that he wants a grievance against somebody in order to accentuate his popularity in certain federal states," Hogan told a conference .

Hogan, who is currently in Washington to "reset" the relationship with Washington, poured cold water on the idea of a quick trade truce between Europe and America, putting the blame squarely on Trump.

"He is obsessed with trying to reduce the deficit ... and talked about how he can win the next election and thinking a bit short term between now and November in terms of getting results."