Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 17, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst LONDON — US President Donald Trump mixed up the European Union's two most senior figures during a phone conversation with the European Commission's president, Jean-Claude Juncker.

In an interview with the Financial Times this week, Juncker said he planned to visit Washington, DC, next month — but did not know whether he would even meet with Trump.

He added that the president "does not understand anything" about Europe and recently thought he was speaking with Juncker when he was actually on the phone with the European Council's president, Donald Tusk.



Here's the quote:

"They’re trying to fix it, but he has other priorities. By the way, he does not understand anything about Europe ... He had Tusk on the phone and he thought it was me."

The European Commission is the EU's executive arm, while the European Council determines the EU's broader policy agenda and is made up of the leaders of member states.

In the same interview, Juncker said Trump had frightened Europeans with his "America First" rhetoric since becoming elected president.

"For the first time in postwar history we have an American president giving the impression he is not interested in European affairs," Juncker said.

He expressed frustration that Trump was so supportive of Britain's departure from the European Union, describing Trump's enthusiasm for Brexit as "annoying" and "surprising."

Trump labeled himself "Mr. Brexit" after Brits voted to leave the 28-nation bloc in the June 23 referendum.