Staff Reports
Donald Trump’s latest triumph in the polls has sent shockwaves through Europe, igniting a frenzy among leaders eager to shine his shoes in hopes of staying in his good graces. While they may be scrambling to rub elbows with the businessman-turned-politician, the underlying anxiety about his potential policies remains palpable.
Emmanuel Macron, the French president often caught between admiration and disdain for Trump, was quick to extend his congratulations. It nearly felt like a race, with Macron swooping in to claim the honor before his right-leaning rival, Marine Le Pen, had the chance to process the news. One almost wonders if Macron felt a twinge of jealousy when Giorgia Meloni of Italy jumped on the congratulatory bandwagon right afterward, referencing a “sisterly” bond that sounds suspiciously like code for backing Trump’s vision.
European Leaders Pledge Cooperation With Trump After Historic Comeback Victoryhttps://t.co/ehRBeiiCLl
— National Catholic Register (@NCRegister) November 7, 2024
For Victor Orban, Hungary’s strongman, Trump’s victory was pure jubilation, labeling it the “biggest comeback” in U.S. politics. While European leaders rushed to align themselves with Trump, voices from the left expressed dread over the winds of change sweeping across the Atlantic. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, would likely need a stiff drink after digesting the news, as she previously found herself on the receiving end of Trump’s sharp tongue.
Across the pond, left-leaning publications were quick to vilify Trump’s resurgence as a calamity. The Spectator bluntly declared his victory as the “worst nightmare” for certain European elites. As if the identity crisis within Europe wasn’t already sufficient, a Trump presidency rekindles that old debate about dependencies and freedoms, with Von der Leyen pushing for a “strong trans-Atlantic agenda” – which probably means more funds and less freedom for member states.
In a surprising twist that one might not expect, Pope Francis decided to sit this one out, maintaining radio silence on Trump’s electoral achievement. Perhaps the Holy See is strategizing their next public relations move, or maybe they are attempting to read the room in a politically charged atmosphere. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky can’t be feeling great either; his hope for continued U.S. support appears to be hanging by a thread. Conventional wisdom suggests that under Trump, aid flows might dry up faster than a summer drought, urging Zelensky to cozy up to Vladimir Putin — a place no one wants to be posturing for power.
With a gathering fresh on the agenda in Budapest, hosted by Orban himself, the stage is set for a pivotal shift in how Europe collaborates with a newly resurgent Trump administration. The irony is not lost here; Hungary, often chastised for its relationship with Russia, may very well emerge as a key player in redefining the West’s approach to its biggest geopolitical challenges. As the Kremlin turned a curious eye toward the Trump administration, the seeds of a potential rapprochement are sowing a fertile ground for a diplomatic minefield.
