The Cultural War of the US: How Trump is Reshaping Europe’s Political Landscape
According to a joint report by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the European Cultural Foundation, the policies of the Donald Trump administration are actively waging an intense cultural war against Europe.
This conflict manifests through support for right-wing and populist forces across the continent, public undermining of European Union leaders on the global stage, and aggressive political maneuvers.
Experts emphasize that Trump’s interference aims to influence European elections, promote conservative values, and shift transatlantic relations towards a more nationalist and populist direction, particularly by rallying far-right movements around free speech issues.
Data from surveys across all 27 EU member states show that public opinion remains strongly pro-European, with European citizens holding high trust in the Union, which still possesses significant resilience to counter external influences.
Meanwhile, EU leaders often respond internally with policies of appeasement, which only emboldens populist and nationalist sentiments.
Notably, Poland is cited as a key example where Trump attempted to influence domestic politics by supporting nationalist politician Karol Nawrótcki.
On an ideological level, the cultural war is about defending European values, identity, and global influence.
Analysts urge Brussels and EU capitals to recognize the scale of this battle and to act decisively, using legal and trade tools to safeguard European sovereignty.
Positive trends include increased public support for boosting defense spending and military independence, as well as a growing awareness that Europe and the US are increasingly divergent models of democracy.
Experts argue that no EU country can ignore the ongoing cultural confrontation, especially as some members remain skeptical of deeper EU integration.
A unified and organized response is crucial for defending Europe’s independence and projecting strength in a changing global order, which is increasingly destabilized by external actors, particularly the US.