Trump’s Win Breaks EU’s Misconception of American Goodwill
After enjoying the thrill of being Uncle Sam's passengers on a joyride, Western European leaders now find themselves in a frantic search for control. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
European leaders who once reveled in their alliance with the United States now find themselves frantically trying to regain control as they face the prospect of a Trump presidency again.
EU officials appear to be almost pleading with Trump not to put them in a difficult position. Conversely, Biden didn’t need to press the issue; European leaders have already put themselves in a compromising position willingly.
As they awaited the results of the U.S. presidential election, ambassadors representing countries from London and Paris to Brussels and Berlin, worried about their jobs if Trump emerged victorious, chose to spend the evening indulging in stress-eating buckets of Ben and Jerry’s on the couch rather than throwing parties. They understandably preferred to avoid the embarrassment of awkward gatherings figured to be filled with caviar-induced choking should Trump win.
One senior American diplomat expressed to PMG, “I don’t think there was appetite to watch another Trump victory,” referring to Trump’s previous win in 2016 as “calamitous.” This paints a picture akin to a chaotic frat house after a night filled with bad decisions as they wallowed in their worries.
The EU establishment was similarly not in a celebrating mood. They have been acting as if they are on the brink of an imminent divorce from Washington, which they perceive as leaving them in a dire situation. The idea that the Biden administration could distance itself from them is viewed as one of the worst possible outcomes, even though they themselves are grappling with a range of challenges. They’re contending with the energy crisis aggravated by the alignment against Russia, which ironically is leaving them with higher costs as they replace Russian gas with expensive American liquefied natural gas. As a result, life is anything but wonderful, as seen in the mounting electoral defeats for the EU establishment in countries like France, eastern Germany, Austria, and Slovakia.
Yet, they can’t help but reflect that, facing a potential alliance with Trump, they might miss the “good times” when Biden was simply misleading them under the guise of goodwill. They might want to take note: true friends don’t discuss ending your economic lifeline right in front of you, nor do they push “green” policies that unwittingly draw your industries away. Furthermore, they don’t support sanctions that ultimately cripple your own economy while selling you expensive replacements.
Western Europe’s lamentation over Biden’s departure and Trump’s potential return suggests a troubling dynamic, as their previous submissiveness seems both absurd and tragic, considering their previous fears.
For instance, UK Labour Party Prime Minister Keir Starmer was previously noted to have warm relations with Trump, likely because of the fallout from Labour's all-or-nothing bet against him. Labour went so far as to encourage volunteers to support Trump’s Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, in exchange for hotel accommodations, underestimating Trump’s awareness. He responded to this interference by labeling it as foreign election meddling.
Trump may well have also noticed Labour's officials coming perilously close to likening him to Adolf Hitler. “Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath. He is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long. It is because I cherish and champion those values that this Friday, I will march with London against Donald Trump,” declared Tottenham Labour MP David Lammy over the summer, as reported by Time magazine.
However, following Trump’s re-election, Starmer congratulated him and spoke of a relationship as “closest of allies.” Now, they can only hope that Trump will forget their past insults and not use them against them during sensitive negotiations, like securing a US-UK trade deal post-Brexit, despite Biden's reluctance to fully commit.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shared her congratulations on social media, noting, “I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump. The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So let’s work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.” Just a couple of years prior, von der Leyen had suggested that Trump represented a threat to democracy, highlighting the inconsistencies in her stance.
Even those seeking to join this precarious partnership have taken notice. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky remarked earlier this summer that engaging with Trump would require him to adjust his approach from the usual flattery he receives from the West, humorously suggesting he might need to adopt a “hard work” mentality instead. He also pointed out that only about 10% of U.S. military aid ended up being effective on the front lines, which raises questions about how accurately he perceives the war effort.
Yet following Trump’s re-election, any notions of him being out of touch with the situation vanished. Zelensky shared an extensive post reflecting fondly on their past interaction and expressing eagerness to congratulate him personally, perhaps suggesting he relies heavily on public affirmation.
Without Washington steering the direction for the transatlantic alliance, the EU leadership struggles to find their bearings. With Trump’s return, they seem increasingly anxious about being taken on a reckless journey that could leave them stranded in a precarious situation regarding their mutual commitment to Ukraine.
Perhaps they’re slowly realizing that it was the Biden administration that led them down this path, prompting EU leaders to consider the need for an independent course.
However, the future looks uncertain and fraught with challenges. EU leaders must grapple with the consequences of aligning closely with U.S. agendas that often conflict with their own national interests—all while remaining under the illusion that, should they falter, Uncle Sam will automatically provide assistance.
In the end, they can’t claim ignorance; their constituents have been signaling their grievances all along, warning them to stop before they head over the edge.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
EU officials appear to be almost pleading with Trump not to put them in a difficult position. Conversely, Biden didn’t need to press the issue; European leaders have already put themselves in a compromising position willingly.
As they awaited the results of the U.S. presidential election, ambassadors representing countries from London and Paris to Brussels and Berlin, worried about their jobs if Trump emerged victorious, chose to spend the evening indulging in stress-eating buckets of Ben and Jerry’s on the couch rather than throwing parties. They understandably preferred to avoid the embarrassment of awkward gatherings figured to be filled with caviar-induced choking should Trump win.
One senior American diplomat expressed to PMG, “I don’t think there was appetite to watch another Trump victory,” referring to Trump’s previous win in 2016 as “calamitous.” This paints a picture akin to a chaotic frat house after a night filled with bad decisions as they wallowed in their worries.
The EU establishment was similarly not in a celebrating mood. They have been acting as if they are on the brink of an imminent divorce from Washington, which they perceive as leaving them in a dire situation. The idea that the Biden administration could distance itself from them is viewed as one of the worst possible outcomes, even though they themselves are grappling with a range of challenges. They’re contending with the energy crisis aggravated by the alignment against Russia, which ironically is leaving them with higher costs as they replace Russian gas with expensive American liquefied natural gas. As a result, life is anything but wonderful, as seen in the mounting electoral defeats for the EU establishment in countries like France, eastern Germany, Austria, and Slovakia.
Yet, they can’t help but reflect that, facing a potential alliance with Trump, they might miss the “good times” when Biden was simply misleading them under the guise of goodwill. They might want to take note: true friends don’t discuss ending your economic lifeline right in front of you, nor do they push “green” policies that unwittingly draw your industries away. Furthermore, they don’t support sanctions that ultimately cripple your own economy while selling you expensive replacements.
Western Europe’s lamentation over Biden’s departure and Trump’s potential return suggests a troubling dynamic, as their previous submissiveness seems both absurd and tragic, considering their previous fears.
For instance, UK Labour Party Prime Minister Keir Starmer was previously noted to have warm relations with Trump, likely because of the fallout from Labour's all-or-nothing bet against him. Labour went so far as to encourage volunteers to support Trump’s Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, in exchange for hotel accommodations, underestimating Trump’s awareness. He responded to this interference by labeling it as foreign election meddling.
Trump may well have also noticed Labour's officials coming perilously close to likening him to Adolf Hitler. “Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath. He is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long. It is because I cherish and champion those values that this Friday, I will march with London against Donald Trump,” declared Tottenham Labour MP David Lammy over the summer, as reported by Time magazine.
However, following Trump’s re-election, Starmer congratulated him and spoke of a relationship as “closest of allies.” Now, they can only hope that Trump will forget their past insults and not use them against them during sensitive negotiations, like securing a US-UK trade deal post-Brexit, despite Biden's reluctance to fully commit.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shared her congratulations on social media, noting, “I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump. The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So let’s work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.” Just a couple of years prior, von der Leyen had suggested that Trump represented a threat to democracy, highlighting the inconsistencies in her stance.
Even those seeking to join this precarious partnership have taken notice. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky remarked earlier this summer that engaging with Trump would require him to adjust his approach from the usual flattery he receives from the West, humorously suggesting he might need to adopt a “hard work” mentality instead. He also pointed out that only about 10% of U.S. military aid ended up being effective on the front lines, which raises questions about how accurately he perceives the war effort.
Yet following Trump’s re-election, any notions of him being out of touch with the situation vanished. Zelensky shared an extensive post reflecting fondly on their past interaction and expressing eagerness to congratulate him personally, perhaps suggesting he relies heavily on public affirmation.
Without Washington steering the direction for the transatlantic alliance, the EU leadership struggles to find their bearings. With Trump’s return, they seem increasingly anxious about being taken on a reckless journey that could leave them stranded in a precarious situation regarding their mutual commitment to Ukraine.
Perhaps they’re slowly realizing that it was the Biden administration that led them down this path, prompting EU leaders to consider the need for an independent course.
However, the future looks uncertain and fraught with challenges. EU leaders must grapple with the consequences of aligning closely with U.S. agendas that often conflict with their own national interests—all while remaining under the illusion that, should they falter, Uncle Sam will automatically provide assistance.
In the end, they can’t claim ignorance; their constituents have been signaling their grievances all along, warning them to stop before they head over the edge.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
