The Intelligence from The Economist We’ll be right over here: Europe’s populists sour on Trump
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Jan 28, 2026 Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief, explains why European populists are cooling on Trump and where tensions show up across countries. Kira Huyu, Asia correspondent, explores why Western dating apps failed in India and how local startups tailor matchmaking. Matt Kaplan, science correspondent, shares camera-trap tales of predators and why animals gather at mineral licks.
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Populists Pull Back Over Sovereignty Concerns
- Europe's populist-right is distancing from Donald Trump when his actions threaten other countries' sovereignty.
- Leaders like Jordan Bardella and Alice Weidel view Trump's Greenland and Venezuela moves as political liabilities at home.
Transatlantic MAGA Ties Are Straining
- MAGA networks had forged close ties with Europe's populist right, boosting their profile and morale.
- That affinity is fraying as Trump's foreign moves clash with the 'country-first' rhetoric these parties preach.
European Responses Depend On Local Stakes
- Reactions vary by country: some leaders publicly rebuke Trump, others stay silent to preserve transatlantic ties.
- Parties like Poland's avoid confrontation to not jeopardise security relationships with the US.