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In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential election victory, the United States’ European allies were initially ready to bend to Trump’s will and accept his unique style of global leadership. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rushed to the White House, where he offered Trump an unprecedented second state visit on behalf of King Charles III, knowing the U.S. president is a sucker for monarchist glitz and glamor. Other leaders followed Starmer’s example, including NATO head Mark Rutte, who bizarrely called Trump “daddy” at a NATO summit in 2025.

In his second term, Trump had a real opportunity to shape the world in his image and restore the United States’ place as the undisputed leader of the free world. Instead, Trump has continued to lash out at allies and reject the White House’s place in the world. Europeans are responding in kind.

In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential election victory, the United States’ European allies were initially ready to bend to Trump’s will and accept his unique style of global leadership. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rushed to the White House, where he offered Trump an unprecedented second state visit on behalf of King Charles III, knowing the U.S. president is a sucker for monarchist glitz and glamor. Other leaders followed Starmer’s example, including NATO head Mark Rutte, who bizarrely called Trump “daddy” at a NATO summit in 2025.

In his second term, Trump had a real opportunity to shape the world in his image and restore the United States’ place as the undisputed leader of the free world. Instead, Trump has continued to lash out at allies and........

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