Is European Far right turning against Trump?

 

Is European Far right turning against Trump?

As of January 2026, several prominent European far-right and populist parties are distancing themselves from Donald Trump, primarily due to his administration's aggressive foreign policy and economic threats toward Europe.

 

Key factors driving this shift include:

• The Greenland Dispute: Trump’s renewed bid to acquire Greenland from Denmark has caused a significant rift. Germany's AfD (Alternative for Germany) has criticized the move, with leader Alice Weidel stating Trump violated a core promise not to interfere in other countries. France’s National Rally leader, Jordan Bardella, denounced the bid as an "intolerable" threat to state sovereignty.
• Tariff Threats: To pressure European nations into the Greenland deal, Trump has threatened to impose massive tariffs on goods from countries like Germany, France, and Britain. This is viewed by European populists as a direct attack on the blue-collar constituencies and manufacturing sectors they claim to represent.
• Public Opinion Shifts: Recent polling indicates that alignment with Trump has become a political liability. In Germany, a January 2026 Forsa poll showed that 71% of voters, including a majority of AfD supporters for the first time, view the U.S. as an adversary. In France, only 18% of National Rally voters viewed Trump positively in recent surveys.
• Mixed Reactions: While some leaders, like Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, maintain open lines of communication with the White House, they have also joined the chorus of criticism regarding Trump's "Wild West" methods and tariff threats. Britain’s Reform UK has expressed uncertainty, with leader Nigel Farage questioning if the president's threats are a bluff.
• European leaders are now weighing "anti-coercion measures," including potential counter-tariffs worth billions, to defend European interests against the administration's "America First" policies.