Ursula von der Leyen: How Trump’s unlikely partner became Europe’s most powerful leader

Ursula Von der Leyen’s approach has produced results, most notably a July trade deal signed at Trump’s Scotland property

The European Commission chief has built an unusual rapport with Donald Trump, shaping trade and Ukraine policy while dividing opinion at home.

Ursula von der Leyen has cultivated a working relationship with US President Donald Trump that few European leaders have managed. At a tense Group of Seven summit in Canada this summer, she surprised his security team by pulling him aside for a private chat on trade, Ukraine, and China. Such moments of direct, informal engagement have helped thaw what was once a frosty relationship between Washington and Brussels, with Trump now publicly describing her as Europe’s most powerful figure, the Wall Street Journal reported.

A career shaped by discipline and pragmatism

The 66-year-old von der Leyen, a physician specializing in women’s health and a mother of seven, brings to Brussels a style shaped by her years in German politics under Angela Merkel. Colleagues say she learned early that preparation and diligence were the price of credibility in male-dominated power structures. That discipline is reflected in her dealings with Trump—she avoids words he dislikes, emphasizes shared goals, and knows when to resist provocation. It is a pragmatic approach, designed to secure concessions without unnecessary confrontation.

Trade deals and criticism at home

Von der Leyen’s approach has produced results, most notably a July trade deal signed at Trump’s Scotland property. Trump hailed it as one of the biggest agreements either leader had ever struck. Yet in Europe, the deal has sparked fierce criticism. French politician Thierry Breton likened it to humiliation in the face of US pressure, while German populist Sahra Wagenknecht called it a disaster. For her critics, von der Leyen has conceded too much; for her supporters, she has ensured Europe retains a seat at the table in a difficult era.

A divisive figure in Brussels

Within the EU itself, von der Leyen has become a polarizing figure. She has consolidated power within the European Commission, pushing it beyond its traditional collective decision-making model. Some governments, such as Hungary under Viktor Orban, accuse her of weaponizing EU authority against opponents. Even her allies acknowledge that her guarded, tightly scripted style can feel aloof, and the recent backlash over the US trade deal caught her team by surprise. Still, her iron rule—celebrate victories for two hours, then move on—underscores her relentless approach to leadership.

Political roots and early challenges

Von der Leyen’s career has long been intertwined with European institutions. Born in Brussels, she is the daughter of Ernst Albrecht, a senior EU official who later became a powerful German politician. She studied under an assumed name in London during the 1970s after police feared left-wing extremists might target her family. After years in medicine and raising her children, she entered politics, eventually serving as Germany’s defense minister. Her tenure ended amid criticism of military readiness, but French President Emmanuel Macron’s 2019 phone call unexpectedly vaulted her to the Commission presidency.

From Merkel protégé to EU leader

As the first woman to lead the European Commission, von der Leyen signalled her determination by moving her living quarters next to her office, ensuring maximum working hours. She built her brand around balancing public life with family demands, often appearing in public with her children. Her early years in Brussels were dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine, where she became one of Europe’s strongest voices in shaping sanctions and visiting front-line cities such as Bucha to show solidarity with Kyiv.

A new test in trans-Atlantic relations

Von der Leyen now faces her toughest test yet: navigating a US president who is both transactional and unpredictable. While she texts and speaks regularly with Trump, the warmth does not match the close cooperation she had with the Biden administration. Trump’s threats of new tariffs and his disdain for EU regulations hang over the relationship. Still, von der Leyen insists the EU and US must work together, stressing that the benefits flow both ways. For now, she remains one of the few European figures who can claim Trump’s ear—and that may prove decisive as global crises mount.