Ryanair boss hits out at US president: 'I have no confidence in Trump, who has proven himself to be a liar time and time again'
US President Donald Trump is “a liar” and “historically wrong” in the big geopolitical files of the moment, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said in an interview.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary. PHOTO: X/@Independent_ie
The airline chief's claims represent a rare criticism from the corporate world, where business leaders typically avoid publicly confronting the current White House leader.
Michael O'Leary said he didn't “no trust” in Trump, whom he accused of being fundamentally wrong on both the war in Ukraine and trade policies.
“I think Trump is historically wrong on Ukraine and Russia, historically wrong on tariffs,” O'Leary said in an interview with Politico, criticizing the lack of support for Kiev and the tariffs that have disrupted global trade.
However, he admitted that the American president is right when he reproaches the European states for not investing enough in defense.
Although he stated that if he were American, he would be “a born republican”, the head of Ryanair stressed that he would not join a party led by Trump. “I have no confidence in Trump, who has proven himself to be a liar time and time again,” he said.
O'Leary is known for his critical stances, both towards political leaders and the European bureaucracy. In the same interview with Politico, he warned that Europe must defend itself “liberties” and reduce excessive taxes and regulations to remain competitive amid pressure from both Russia and the Trump administration.
Ryanair's CEO listed low-cost air travel, the abolition of roaming charges and the Erasmus program as the main achievements of the European Union, which he said brought the younger generations of member states closer together. “We're going to have to start defending these freedoms,” he warned.
At the same time, O'Leary launched attacks on initiatives to increase fees and passenger rights, describing the European Parliament's proposals as “crazy and illegal”. He particularly criticized Belgium's intention to increase air transport tax, which he said would lead to a reduction in Ryanair's capacity at Charleroi airport.
The company has already announced cuts of one million seats in 2026 and another million in 2027, as well as reducing the number of aircraft at its Charleroi base from 19 to 15.
Instead of additional passenger charges, O'Leary called for the European Carbon Trading Scheme (ETS) to be extended to intercontinental flights, not just those within the EU.
“If you're really serious about environmental taxes, apply ETS to US, Asian and Gulf flights”he declared, warning, however, that such a measure could cause tensions with Washington.
“That will never happen while Trump is in the White House,” the Ryanair boss concluded.
