European Far Right Distances Itself from Trump Over Greenland and Venezuela

Europe’s nationalist leaders, long aligned with President Trump, are publicly distancing themselves from the U.S. president after his recent actions that some see as challenges to European sovereignty, including threats over Greenland, U.S. military operations in Venezuela and a combative speech in Davos, Switzerland.

Key figures have voiced sharper criticism: Nigel Farage called Mr. Trump’s Greenland threats a "very hostile act," Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected his suggestion that European soldiers had played only a minor role in Afghanistan, and Jordan Bardella of France’s National Rally described the Greenland stance as "unacceptable" and the threatened tariffs on France as "blackmail." The article notes that European nationalists still share policy ideas with Mr.

Trump — on immigration, borders and culture — and that the Trump administration has praised "patriotic European parties." Support for public association with Mr. Trump is politically risky, the report says: a survey carried out early in January found only 15 percent of Germans now consider the United States a trustworthy partner, and centrist opponents are using Mr.

Trump’s actions to criticize right-wing parties. Analysts quoted in the piece warned that open American pressure "damages populist, patriotic parties," and that even parties sympathetic to Mr. Trump oppose any suggestion of U.S. annexation of European territory.

Key Topics

Politics, Donald Trump, Greenland, Venezuela, Giorgia Meloni, Nigel Farage