Donald Trump says massive Google fine has proved him right in argument with EU

'I told you so!'

Donald Trump has responded to the EU's decision to charge Google with a record-breaking fine.

"I told you so!" the president tweeted. "The European Union just slapped a Five Billion Dollar fine on one of our great companies, Google. They truly have taken advantage of the US, but not for long!"

The post is just the latest mark of deteriorating relations between the EU and the US.

It is not clear which of Mr Trump's comments he believes was proved correct by the fine. The president is currently involved in a range of disputes with the EU, having referred to it as one of the US's "foes" as he continues a trade war.

Mr Trump has been previously reported to have suggested that Margrethe Vestager, who levied the fine as EU competition commissioner, "hates the US". He also referred to her as "tax lady", apparently in reference to her work to recover payments from Apple and other major tech companies.

The latter part of Mr Trump's tweet seems an explicit reference to the threat that new tariffs could be applied to goods such as imported cars. The EU has said that such a penalty would be "disastrous" and that it would be forced to respond in kind.

After the Google fine was issued, Ms Vestager stressed that the decision was not being taken against the America. “I very much like the US,” Ms Vestager told a press conference.

Google was hit by the $5 billion fine – the biggest ever issued to one company by a regulator – for forcing cellphone makers that use the company's Android operating system to install Google search and browser apps.

The European Union said Google's practices restrict competition and reduce choices for consumers.

While Google can easily afford the fine, the ruling could undermine the company's business model, which relies on giving away its operating system in return for opportunities to sell ads and other products.

Google immediately said it will appeal, arguing that its free operating system has led to lower-price phones and created competition with its chief rival, Apple.

Android has "created more choice for everyone, not less," Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted.