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Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić says relations between Serbia and the United States have undergone a dramatic transformation under President Donald Trump, a shift he says has changed public perceptions in a country where memories of the 1999 NATO bombing campaign remain deeply rooted. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Vučić praised Trump’s approach to the Balkans, arguing that the administration’s focus on economic cooperation rather than political pressure resonated with many Serbs.

Coverage Comparison

The interview, conducted with Fox News Digital, focused on Vučić’s warm words for the Trump administration and the invitation for Trump to visit Belgrade. Fox News highlighted Vučić’s praise for the administration’s approach, describing the change in relations as a "dramatic transformation." The Russian state news agency TASS, in its report on the same interview, emphasized Vučić’s comments on the Ukraine conflict, noting his view that Trump’s position in favor of negotiations is "gaining increasing support" in Europe. While Fox News’s coverage centered on the bilateral relationship and the invitation, TASS’s report focused on the Ukraine conflict dimension, framing Vučić’s remarks as evidence of growing European backing for Trump’s stance.

Key Claims

  • Vučić said that many Serbs view the Trump administration differently from previous U.S. governments. When asked to compare the Clinton and Trump administrations, or Democrats and Republicans, he said the result would be "90 to 10 or 95 to 5."
  • Vučić stated that the improving relationship between Washington and Belgrade is increasingly centered on economics, investment, and technological cooperation. He also said that Serbia and the U.S. are preparing to launch a strategic dialogue on energy, infrastructure, and defense cooperation, and that Serbia seeks to position itself as a regional economic hub while aiming to join the European Union.
  • Vučić extended an invitation to Trump to visit Serbia, saying, "I hope that we'll be able to host him." Predicting a large welcome, he added, "More people will be ready to greet him and wait for him than he might even expect…I dare to say even more than hundreds of thousands of people."
  • Vučić expressed support for Trump’s position on negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine. He said that when Trump first proposed negotiations, many in Europe and beyond rejected the idea, but now "all the others are coming much closer to that position of President Trump." He added, "Now, everybody would like to start to negotiate." He concluded, "It's always better to have thousands of days of negotiations than one day of war."