A recent viral claim on social media alleged that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, was ejected from a meeting at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump and other European leaders. This meeting, held on August 18, 2025, focused on discussions around peace in Ukraine. Some social media posts suggested that Trump expressed a desire to engage only with certain leaders, implying von der Leyen was asked to wait outside for what he described as a “grown-up talk.” The meeting included prominent leaders such as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, and others.
The source of these claims seems to have emerged mainly from right-wing alternative media outlets, with one prominent article attributed to Omid Nouripour, the vice president of the German Bundestag. In a televised appearance on ntv, Nouripour suggested that von der Leyen had to leave the room because the Americans preferred to speak only with leaders. The story gained traction, especially among platforms known for their anti-EU sentiment, alluding to a lack of political legitimacy for von der Leyen, claiming her position was merely a byproduct of her association with Macron.
However, this assertion has been categorically denied by the European Commission’s deputy chief spokeswoman. She emphasized that von der Leyen was present for the entirety of the meeting alongside the other leaders. Following the uproar, Nouripour clarified his earlier remarks in a post on X, acknowledging that he had mistakenly referenced inaccurate reports and affirmed that it was appropriate for von der Leyen to be there representing the European Union member states. His office noted that he was referring to media reports from outlets like Bild and Der Spiegel, which had inaccurately characterized the meeting as being exclusive to certain leaders.
Notably, the media outlets in question did not respond to requests for clarification. However, ntv subsequently corrected its report based on Nouripour’s follow-up statement, shedding light on the confusion. Interestingly, video evidence from the White House meeting contradicts the viral narrative. Trump was even quoted suggesting that von der Leyen might hold more power than the other leaders present, highlighting her significance in representing 27 nations.
Trump’s remarks included commendations for von der Leyen, noting the importance of the recent U.S.-EU trade agreement finalized in July. He stated, “you might be more powerful than all these guys at this table… I want to thank you very much for being here,” illustrating a strong relationship rather than the fallout that social media claims suggested. The discrepancy between the actual events and the circulating rumors exemplifies the potential for misinformation to distort perceptions of political dynamics.
In sum, despite the attempts to fuel an anti-von der Leyen narrative through viral misinformation, the actual events depict a collaborative environment among European leaders during a critical discussion on Ukraine. The reassurances from both von der Leyen’s office and Nouripour’s subsequent clarification highlight the importance of verifying information before accepting it as fact, especially in an era of widespread digital communication. The incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities associated with misinformation in politics and the need for responsible media consumption.
