Caught short by Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, Europeans reacted immediately on Wednesday 9 November by congratulating the American billionaire on his being democratically elected while, at the same time, reminding him of the United States’ responsibility on major international matters, such as the conflicts in the Middle East, tackling the terrorist threat and climate change, managing the challenges of migration and boosting global trade (see other articles).
Reflecting the many uncertainties of an unstable geopolitical environment, their reactions varied between reminders of historic links and fundamental values at the heart of transatlantic relations and fear of American withdrawal that would leave Europe alone to face the challenges in its immediate neighbourhood. With major elections looming in the Netherlands, France and Germany in 2017, the call was made to pro-European leaders to reconnect with European citizens, the only way to stem the rise of populist movements which, already galvanised at the prospect of the United Kingdom leaving the EU, threaten to destroy the very European project.
Although Trump will not take over the United States presidency until the start of 2017, Europeans are beginning to reflect on the inevitable changes in transatlantic relations. In response to a request from Germany, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Federica Mogherini has invited European foreign ministers to an extraordinary dinner on Sunday 13 November, on the eve of the General Affairs Council so that initial stock can be taken of the US elections.
European leaders looking for bearings. In their letter of congratulation to Trump, the Presidents of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, invited the next American president to take part in an EU-US summit “at your earliest convenience”. “This conversation would allow for us to chart the course of our relations for the next four years”, they told him. They stressed that no effort should be spared in ensuring that the ties that bind the EU and the United States remain “strong and durable” and able to meet shared challenges, citing, for example, the terrorist threat from Da’esh and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Later, Tusk, a confirmed atlanticist, said that “isolationism is not possible”. He did not, however, deny the new “uncertainties” in transatlantic relations.
According to the Brussels representative of a major industrial consortium, the victory for the Republican candidate in the United States should provide a boost to European integration in defence around the Franco-German core. It could cast doubt on transatlantic trade talks, the Paris climate agreement and the international agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme.
“Whoever governs that great country, with its huge economic clout, its military potential and its cultural influence, holds a responsibility that is felt across the world”, stated German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She listed the values that unite her country and the United States: “democracy, freedom, respect for the law and human dignity irrespective of origin, skin colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation and political conviction”. The German foreign minister hoped that Trump’s election was not a forerunner of “greater tectonic shifts in foreign affairs”.
French President François Hollande said that Trump’s surprise victory opened a “period of uncertainty”, which must be faced “with lucidity and clarity”. “Some of the stances adopted by Mr Trump during the US electoral campaign must be confronted with the values that we share with the United States”, said the French Socialist who had backed the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May believes that the “enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise” between the UK and the US will continue and ensure the “security and prosperity of our nations in the years to come”. In Central Europe, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hailed a victory for democracy.
In Parliament, pro-Europeans shocked and Europhobes exultant. MEPs openly expressed feelings that were often a mixture of apprehension, disbelief and distrust. Many saw the result as symptomatic of a malady that is making itself felt in both the United States and Europe. Calls for Europe to “get its act together” were many. However, the usual political divisions often prevailed in determining how it was to do so.
Reactions, given the circumstances, were unusual, giving the impression that those expressing them wanted to set aside the normal rules of diplomatic protocol. Witness, for example, the comments of European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who said he hoped that the president-elect of the United States would, in his dealings with the EU and its member states, respect human rights and fundamental rights, reminding him that he had to abide by his own country’s constitution. Friendly advice to back up Schulz’s principal desire that transatlantic relations remain, despite everything, rational.
In less strident terms but, nonetheless, reflecting the same spirit, the leader of the EPP, Manfred Weber (Germany) said that it was impossible to predict what was to be expected now of the United States. He stressed that the concerns and fears that helped bring victory for the Republican candidate could also be seen in Europe. The US election, then, provides a strong wake-up call. “The message is clear: it is now up to Europe to act!” he said.
The strongest reaction probably came from the leader of the S&D Group. Trump is no less than the “expression of a virus that has deeply infected our societies, not only in the United States but also in Europe”, railed Gianni Pittella (Italy). He joined Weber in calling for Europe to mobilise against populism and demagogues of all sorts. He was more radical in his call, stressing the need for a veritable revolution and extreme reform. He argued, however, that those who voted for Trump or who support people like Marine Le Pen in France or Nigel Farage in the UK should not be pilloried because they are the losers in globalisation and it is up to the EU to give itself the wherewithal to address their grievances.
The leader of the ALDE Group, Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium), also wants to believe that Europe will stand together, following the US election’s “wake-up call for European leaders”. He appears, however, to be alone in proposing that political differences should be set aside so that Europe can “get its act together” on the challenges posed by, for instance, Russia and climate change.
Ultimately, it was left to the Greens to best sum up the feelings in the pro-European camp by expressing the hope that “President Trump” will not be the same as “Candidate Trump”.
Swimming against this tide, Nigel Farage (EFDD, UK) was one of the few in the European Parliament to express sincere congratulations to Trump, who had backed the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union. The reason for Farage’s words is simple: Trump will be a key ally for the UK in the country’s announced split from the EU, Farage said. Marine Le pen (France), leader of the ENF and candidate in the French presidential election in the spring of 2017 welcomed the surprise victory of the “free” American people over the system and its elites. (Mathieu Bion and Jan Kordys with Thomas Régnier and Camille-Cerise Gessant)