US Official to Europe: "Civilizational Erasure" Warning Meant to "Jolt" Ally

A senior Trump administration official says a recent U.S. strategy paper predicting Europe's "civilizational erasure" was intended as a wake-up call. The official described it as a warning, not an insult, meant to spur economic reform. Last month's U.S. national security document caused outrage in Europe. It claimed migration and censorship are creating strife, falling birth rates, and a loss of national identity. European leaders condemned it as a major shift in the 70-year alliance. The U.S. official now states the harsh criticism was a deliberate attempt to "jolt" the ally. The goal is to push Europe toward policies that boost economic growth.