President Donald Trump had harsh words for the European Union amid his escalating feud with the bloc's leaders over Ukraine and trade policy, saying that the organization was designed to antagonize the U.S. as he threatened the imposition of 25% import tariffs.

"The European Union, it was formed in order to screw the United States. That is the purpose of it," he said. "And they've done a good job of it, but now I'm president."

"They can try," he said, when pressed on the prospect of European trade retaliation for his tariffs.

“We have made a decision and we’ll be announcing it very soon. It’ll be 25%,” he said at the first Cabinet meeting, according to Guardian.