Is Trump Losing Europe’s Far Right?

 

Is Trump Losing Europe’s Far Right?

In early 2026, evidence suggests that while Donald Trump remains a powerful influence on European populism, he is experiencing a significant "cooling" or distancing from several key far-right allies.

 

The primary reasons for this shift include:

 

1. Contradictions in Economic Interests

• While Europe’s far right often shares Trump’s nationalist rhetoric, his "America First" trade policies—specifically high tariffs—are seen as a direct threat to the manufacturing sectors that many of these parties' voters rely on.
• France: Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, recently accused the U.S. of "economic warfare," stating that while Trump may be good for Americans, he is "bad for Europeans".
• Germany: Polls from late 2025 and early 2026 show that only 20% of AfD (Alternative for Germany) voters believe Trump's election was good for their country, while nearly half viewed it as negative.

 

2. Foreign Policy Friction

• Trump's recent assertive foreign policy moves have alienated even his most staunch European supporters:
• Greenland Interest: Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland has been met with rebukes. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, typically an ally on migration and EU skepticism, "resolutely rejected" such breaches of international law.
• Russia and Ukraine: While some leaders like Viktor Orbán (Hungary) and Robert Fico (Slovakia) still share Trump's desire for a quick end to the Ukraine war, others find his "civilizational war" rhetoric against the EU destabilizing for their own national security interests.
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3. Domestic Political Toxicity

In countries like France, far-right leaders have calculated that being too closely associated with Trump is politically damaging. National Rally leaders have reportedly begun to distance themselves because Trump remains deeply unpopular with the broader French electorate.

 

4. A Deepening Divide

The European far right is increasingly split into two camps:

The Pragmatists: Parties like France’s National Rally and Italy's Brothers of Italy, which are prioritizing domestic power and may view Trump's unpredictability as a liability.

The Loyalists: Groups like Germany’s AfD and Hungary’s Fidesz, which continue to use Trump’s support as a tool for legitimacy and to "make Europe great again" through a Nationalist International alliance.

Despite these tensions, the Trump administration's 2025/2026 National Security Strategy explicitly seeks to "cultivate resistance" by boosting far-right, anti-EU parties to bypass traditional diplomatic channels.