As Trump enters the fray, the danger is that a nationalist Europe will fragment, not stick together | Nathalie Tocci

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

86% : Meloni was at Mar-a-Lago for dinner on 4 January, where she was lauded by Trump as a "fantastic leader" who "has taken Europe by storm".
69% : But Macron, while vaunting a relatively good relationship with Trump, is extremely weak domestically.
55% : But they are growing in strength and numbers, have made headway in coordinating with each other in EU institutions, and are increasingly effective at influencing the centre right, fudging and erasing the cordon sanitaire that kept them out of power for decades.
53% : But Meloni is a nationalist, and nationalist leaders will always use their political capital with Trump to further their national interests.
50% : And given that personal chemistry alone is unlikely to appease Trump, Meloni may have to give something substantial in return for any wins.
45% : Rightwing leaders such as Meloni and Orbán set themselves up as Trump whisperers - but they only want to preserve their own interestsA far-right wind is blowing across the Atlantic.
44% : Far-right parties come in different shapes and forms in Europe, and are still some distance from representing a blocking minority in the EU.
44% : But while Orbán may have Trump's ear, he has marginalised himself in the EU and is unlikely to recover his reputation.
42% : Against this backdrop, Trump 2.0 and Musk enter the fray, making no secret of their political preferences in Europe.
40% : As Europeans fret about Trump, they try to gauge who might be the possible whisperer and bridge-builder across the Atlantic.
39% : Instead of worrying about Trump, Europe would do best to stand together and worry more about itself.
30% : Orbán and Meloni have refrained from criticising Trump or Musk, and have received nothing but praise in return.
29% : This is why many look to Meloni, who gloats about her rapport with Trump and Musk and has not marginalised herself in Europe like Orbán.

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