Europe trapped in Trump’s culture war ‘Truman Show’
A striking new report from the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) warns that US President Donald Trump and his MAGA movement are waging a full-blown culture war on Europe. Drawing parallels with the 1998 film The Truman Show, authors argue that Europe now finds itself in a simulated reality directed by Trump’s America, reacting to crises scripted across the Atlantic rather than charting its own course.
The Munich speech that lit the fuse
The report points to Vice President J.D. Vance’s infamous address at the Munich Security Conference in February as the pivotal moment. Vance accused the UK and Europe of “backsliding away from conscience rights,” issuing a stark warning of a domestic “threat from within.” That speech, the authors contend, marked the formal launch of America’s cultural offensive, signalling a shift from mere political disagreements to a deeper ideological clash.
Backing far-right allies in European politics
In detailing how the US is fuelling this war, the ECFR and ECF highlight meetings between the current administration and key European figures:
- Alice Weidel, co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
- Karol Nawrocki, a high-profile independent candidate for Poland’s 2025 presidential election.
Such direct engagement with populist and nationalist actors underlines Washington’s strategy: to shore up ideological allies capable of shaking up Europe’s political landscape ahead of critical elections in Hungary (2026) and France (2027).
Agenda-setting vs. reactive politics
The report argues that Europe’s mainstream parties—labelled “liberals” by ECFR and ECF—now spend a disproportionate amount of their time reacting to crises chosen by Trump and his European partners. Instead of setting the agenda at summits and in parliaments, leaders are caught off-guard, forced to respond to provocations and controversies imported from US domestic politics.
Imperfect union, resilient democracy
Despite these pressures, the authors stress Europe’s resilience:
- “Imperfect as the EU is… it remains a haven of liberal democracy for most of its citizens.”
- Trust in EU institutions is at its highest level since 2007, underscoring a continued belief in the European project.
The think tanks assert that this paradox—Europe’s troubles alongside enduring trust—creates an opening for EU leaders to stand firm and reclaim control of their own narrative.
Trade war humiliation: a photo that stung
In July, Trump claimed a “big win” by striking a trade deal with the EU, reducing US tariffs on various goods from 30% to 15%. Yet US duties on steel and aluminium remained at a punitive 50%. The agreement, negotiated during a summit in Scotland between Ursula von der Leyen and Trump, was widely portrayed in the European media as a moment of humiliation. One photograph of von der Leyen standing beside Trump circulated online as a symbol of Europe’s weakened bargaining position.
Blonde Money CEO Helen Thomas described the deal as emblematic of a new geopolitical reality: security concerns now override commercial interests, allies are rewarded for loyalty, and nations must navigate a binary choice between the US and China.
A call for Europe to write its own script
The ECFR and ECF conclude with an urgent appeal to European politicians:
- “Defend a Europe that writes its own script,” they urge, calling for unity among pro-EU mainstream parties.
- They highlight a broad parliamentary pro-European majority in nearly all member states.
- Yet they stress the need for political courage to resist outside influences and craft independent policies.
This “Truman Show” metaphor serves as a wake-up call: Europe must step out of the scripted reality imposed by foreign cultural battles and assert its own values and future. As the report notes, the continent has the institutional foundations and public support to do so—if only its leaders find the will to break free from external director’s commentary.