As President-elect Donald Trump prepared for his second inauguration, European legacy media outlets painted a picture of foreboding and alarm. While many European politicians have opted for a more diplomatic approach, understanding the need to engage with the incoming U.S. president, the continent’s newspapers did not hold back in their coverage. From comparisons to autocratic leaders to predictions of a “vengeful” second term, the tone was overwhelmingly negative across much of Europe.
In the United Kingdom, The Guardian set the stage with a headline warning of a “Vengeful second term,” reflecting concerns over America’s political future under Trump. The paper’s coverage underscored the deep divisions within the U.S., referencing the January 6th Capitol riot and Trump’s legal challenges, including his impeachment and conviction. According to the Guardian, European apprehension about Trump’s return to power was notably stronger than in many other parts of the world, with a sense of unease palpable across the continent.
In France, Libération labeled Trump as “Revengeful and more uninhibited than ever,” while Le Monde published an editorial drawing a direct parallel between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, the conservative Le Figaro raised concerns about the decline of “democratic, open, and universalist” America under Trump’s leadership, suggesting that the U.S. was shifting towards an “oligarchic, protectionist, and imperial” model. This shift, according to the article, could mean a future of autocratic rule akin to that of China’s Xi Jinping and Turkey’s Recep Erdogan.
In Poland, Wyborcza echoed similar fears, arguing that Trump’s rise would only strengthen the European Union, driving it towards federalization as a counterbalance to American dominance. On the other hand, the conservative Rzeczpospolitapainted a stark picture of Trump’s impact, warning that his agenda threatened the core values of democracy and the rule of law in the West.
In Germany, the reaction was similarly blunt. Die Tageszeitung (TAZ) mocked Trump and his supporters, calling them “fools who confuse success with competence,” while Tagespiegel expressed anxiety about the potential consequences for Europe, fearing that “Europe will pay the price for American dissatisfaction.”
Despite these varied reactions, it was clear that the anxiety surrounding Trump’s return to the White House was deeply felt across Europe’s left-leaning media. Many European outlets predicted a turbulent future, with Trump’s presidency marking a sharp break from what they viewed as the post-World War II order of democratic values.