Die transatlantische MAGA-Fantasie: Wie Trump Europa falsch interpretierte

[Excerpt from essay by Liana Fix, Senior Fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations; and Michael Kimmage, Director of the Kennan Institute.]

The United States’ war in Iran, which began in February, has illuminated two truths about the contemporary transatlantic relationship. One is that European far-right parties have not been Trump’s wartime allies in Europe. They have rushed to distance themselves from the war, showing that ideological alignment does not automatically translate into political loyalty. The other truth is that the administration’s open support for right-wing European parties and candidates has damaged Washington’s relationship with European leaders who are not on the far right. Had Washington cared more about respecting and preserving these relationships, many European leaders might have offered symbolic support for the Iran war or at least toned down their public criticism. Yet distrust of Washington now prevails across Europe.

The United States would be wise to rethink its approach to Europe, especially in view of Hungary’s election results. Instead of continuing to fan the flames, the Trump administration should step back from Europe’s domestic politics, end its illiberal crusade, and deal judiciously with European leaders across the political spectrum. Such a reversal is not in this administration’s nature. But with the costs of the Iran war growing, it is in the United States’ interest to seek points of cooperation with Europe as a whole.

Misread Europe? He didn’t even bother to read at all, and his party followed with all of it.

Uh no? Very soon Germany, France and UK will be ruled by Pro-Russia and Pro-MAGA parties.