They never thought America would go ahead and do it for them.
I obviously don't know what the US' aim is but I can imagine two things:
The growing integration of the EU is seen as a threat or at the very least against US interests because it creates a competitor. That's not news, the US have always been wary of European political integration.
The other aspect, very politically incorrect to even mention, is that the growing "islamisation" of Europe is seen as a threat because, indeed, over time it may lead to Europe no longer being a reliable ally.
I am not sure that any of this is new in term of thinking in Washington DC., but it is now said publicly in very blunt terms, very much a la Trump.
I think it is more that Trump cannot collect bounties in the form of donations in his crypto currency in exchange for favors.
Maybe it is also because they cannot cope with the idea that the 'socialist' Europe is doing well (lately even better than the USA) economical, while this goes to their ideas of what makes a nation strong.
Also in other aspect such as safety, well being, freedom of press, and life expectancy many countries in Europe are doing better than the USA on average.
The fact that the USA is normalizing relationships with Russia is felt as very worrying especially while painting the EU as an adversary.
The USA is the only NATO country that activated article 5 and many European countries responded, but not the USA is saying they will not respond to article 5 if NATO countries in Europe is attacked by Russia.
Europe is falling behind economically. I certainly don't think that the US see them as a threat in that regards. It's more than European integration creates a single, more powerful bloc that can challenge the US.
bell-cot•10h ago