The US presidential election was an event that captured the attention of the world, and the outcome, particularly for Europe, was unexpected. Donald Trump won a landslide victory, and his party, the Republicans, gained control of both houses of Congress, which strengthens their political position and opens up new opportunities for implementing their plans. As the final vote count continues, European media and politicians are actively discussing what led to this result and how it will affect US relations with European countries.
Trump’s victory raises many questions and concerns in Europe, as his political stance and rhetoric often differ from traditional US approaches to foreign policy, particularly with regard to cooperation with NATO allies and global security issues. European analysts and policy makers have begun to predict possible changes in US foreign policy, assessing the implications for Europe’s economic and security interests. Amid growing uncertainty and expectations of significant changes in the political map of the world, Europe is preparing for the new realities brought about by Donald Trump’s victory.
The New York Times published an article titled ‘Trump’s America: A Triumphant Return Reveals a Different Country’, which reflects on how Trump has changed since his first presidency and what he has learned politically. According to the journalist, Trump has gained much more freedom of action, as well as a close-knit team of advisers who now support his goals. With control of both houses of Congress and influence over the Republican Party, which is fully subordinate to his leadership, Trump will have more opportunities to implement his plans. The author notes that Trump has largely taken advantage of the mistakes of the Biden administration, which, although it introduced a number of support programmes, failed to control inflation and reduce the level of illegal migration.
The New Yorker, in its article ‘Donald Trump’s Revenge’, emphasises that Trump’s success is the result of a serious mistake in American politics. The author, Susan Glasser, emphasises that the victory of Trump, who had previously had numerous political scandals and violations, was a shock. She notes that the Democrats underestimated Trump, which allowed him to regain influence in the country.
The Washington Post draws attention to the strategic changes that Trump made during his election campaign. Despite his hardline stance on many issues, his team convinced him to change his tone and soften his rhetoric on topics such as abortion and early voting to attract new voter groups, particularly in the important states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. The campaign focused on issues that mattered to voters, such as the economy, inflation and immigration. The strategic adaptation of his views allowed Trump to win in states where the struggle was particularly intense, which became his political comeback after his 2020 defeat.
Time focuses on the issues that helped Trump attract a wide audience, including former Democratic supporters, young people, minorities and voters without a college degree. The magazine emphasises that Trump has presented an authoritarian programme that includes mass deportations of migrants, persecution of political opponents and the use of security forces against citizens. The authors warn that the consequences of his presidency could be historic and have a serious impact on the state system. At the same time, they note that Trump’s unpredictability raises the question of how far he is willing to go with all the power in his hands.
The Associated Press analyses Trump’s victory, calling it an ‘impressive political comeback’ based on the support of disillusioned voters. The article notes that he actively attacked his rival Harris, using personal attacks and apocalyptic predictions, which created an image of America on the verge of collapse. Trump’s harsh rhetoric has found support among certain segments of society, particularly men, reflecting the polarised mood in the country.
Vox writes that Trump’s second term could pose a serious threat to American democracy. The author, Zach Beauchamp, emphasises that Trump could use federal institutions to take personal revenge on his opponents. He also draws attention to the fact that Trump’s inner circle is completely loyal to him, which could create a dangerous situation for democracy. Nevertheless, the author remains hopeful, stressing that the American political system has checks and balances that can reduce the risks of authoritarianism.
In the article ‘Democracy Is Not Over’ by The Atlantic, Tom Nichols calls on Americans to take an active civic stance to preserve democratic values. The author emphasises the importance of political vigilance, citing the words of Winston Churchill: ‘This is not the end, but only the beginning’. He believes that even in such difficult times, American democracy is able to survive thanks to the involvement of citizens in political life.
The Guardian highlights the impact of Trump’s victory on US foreign policy, including support for Ukraine. The authors of the article suggest that Trump may change course on Ukraine by reducing aid or even revising relations with Russia. This could significantly weaken Kyiv’s position in the war. Although Trump has previously claimed to be able to stop the conflict in a short time, his policies are unpredictable in many ways, which is worrying.
Axios looks at the possibility of changes in international relations under the influence of Trump, who may focus on deals with Russia. The article notes that some world leaders, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, have already congratulated Trump on his victory, seeing it as an opportunity for their own countries. However, at the same time, some countries, especially in Europe, are concerned about the possible consequences for the stability of the region.
The Economist compares Trump to Franklin Roosevelt, noting that his policies could significantly change the US international course. According to the newspaper, during his presidency, Trump is likely to focus on a deal-oriented approach, which could create difficulties for America’s traditional allies in Europe.
In addition, The Economist writes that Trump could force the US to pursue a policy of dealmaking rather than alliance, and the unpredictability of the new US president could create difficulties for US allies, particularly in Europe.
Berlin’s Der Tagesspiegel sees three reasons for Trump’s popularity:
“Firstly, all the warnings about Trump as a destroyer of democracy, a fascist and a divisive figure have not had the expected effect. It is possible that these warnings, on the contrary, caused the opposite reaction in the wavering voters, who voted ‘out of spite’. Secondly, the Trump supporters’ camp includes a very large block of young, not very educated men. … The more actively Harris fought for women’s votes, the more men switched to Trump’s side. Third, it seems that Trump managed to increase his share of the vote at the expense of black and Hispanic voters. The Democrats will have to come to terms with the fact that in the long run, minority interests cannot be sustained by anti-racist rhetoric alone. Policies that benefit minorities must be tangible in practice – in the form of jobs, affordable housing, and family assistance.”
Traditional US parties are losing their influence, the Warsaw-based weekly Polityka laments:
“The old influential parties have shown themselves to be shamefully weak: the Republicans have lost all control over “their” candidate; the Democrats have been unable to find a successor to Joe Biden for four years and as a result were forced to panic and bet on the unprepared Harris, who they took by surprise – and had to learn everything in the process.
American democracy, which for 250 years has been a model and a role model around the world, has emerged from this election campaign in a very shabby state.”
Once president, Trump will go all in,’ predicts the Vienna-based Kleine Zeitung:
“The next four years under Trump – if he is elected – will not be a direct continuation of his previous presidential term, which ended in 2021.
Rather, the world faces an unrestrained turbo version of the latter.
All the ‘adults’, i.e. the relatively moderate forces of the first administration that tried to contain Trump’s most dangerous intentions, have long since left.
Anyone running for public office today in the Republican Party, radicalised by the ‘Make America Great Again’ movement, must submit to Trump’s ideas.”
