Donald Trump has long served as an important reference point for far-right parties in Europe. His political success has helped normalize far-right rhetoric and actors, while also encouraging closer cooperation and exchange across the Atlantic. With Trump’s second presidential term and an administration pursuing a more distinctly far-right agenda, this relationship may become even more consequential.
At the same time, closer association with Trump comes with political risks. His confrontational approach toward Europe and the European Union creates economic and geopolitical challenges that may make visible alignment with his administration increasingly costly. Rather than weakening European cooperation, these tensions may also strengthen public support for European unity and complicate the strategic calculations of far-right parties.
In this lecture, Jakub Wondreys examines how European far-right parties navigate these competing incentives and asks whether Trump will remain a valuable political role model or increasingly become a toxic friend. The talk explores variation in how these parties position themselves toward Trump and considers what these dynamics mean for efforts to “Trump-proof” Europe and for the future of transatlantic relations.
