European Leaders Push Back Against Trump’s Policies, Urging Greater Unity at Munich Security Conference

At Europe’s most significant annual security gathering, leaders from France and Germany voiced strong disapproval of former President Trump’s handling of the trans-Atlantic alliance. On Friday, both President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany passionately called for a more robust and unified Europe, capable of collaborating with the United States while also standing firm against Russia.

President Macron, addressing the Munich Security Conference in English, declared, "Europe is rearming, but we must now go beyond" to transform into a cohesive global power. He stressed that Europe must evolve into a "geopolitical power" that can act decisively not only on economic matters but also on security, emphasizing the need to "accelerate" this ongoing transformation.

Without explicitly naming former President Trump or his allies, Macron sharply rebutted criticisms leveled against Europe, rejecting the notion of the continent as "an aging, slow, fragmented concept sidelined by history" that allegedly permits uncontrolled immigration and stifles free speech. He asserted that such characterizations were inaccurate, urging others to learn from Europe rather than criticize or seek to divide it.

Earlier in the day, Chancellor Merz opened the conference by suggesting that the Trump administration’s actions over the past year had severely challenged, and potentially squandered, the United States’ claim to global leadership. He lamented that "the international order based on rights and rules is currently being destroyed," adding that this order, despite its past flaws, no longer exists in its previous form. Merz echoed Macron’s call for increased European military strength and a reduction in economic reliance on the U.S. He also revealed that Germany had initiated discussions with nuclear power France regarding the establishment of a European nuclear deterrent. More directly than Macron, Merz underscored the vital need for continued cooperation with Washington, stating in English, "In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone."

Macron further implicitly criticized Trump for attempting to negotiate peace in Ukraine without involving European nations, who are critical in arming Ukraine, guaranteeing its postwar security, and hold the most at stake in countering Russian aggression. "No peace without Europeans," he declared. "You can negotiate without Europeans if you prefer, but it will not bring peace at the table."

The conference also heard from other prominent figures. The U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, defended President Trump’s foreign policy, while Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan voiced strong disagreements, with Ocasio-Cortez particularly critical of the "destruction of our relationship with our European allies." Ocasio-Cortez additionally connected rising income inequality to the global surge of authoritarianism, advocating for a "working-class centered politics" to counter this trend.

Key Updates from the Conference:

• Greenland: Secretary of State Marco Rubio held meetings with the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland, as the Trump administration continued efforts to expand U.S. presence or official control over the autonomous Danish territory.
• Ukraine: Discussions on ending the conflict in Ukraine, which have seen little progress, were central. Merz advocated for exhausting Russia economically and militarily, suggesting U.S. peace efforts were premature. Macron called for stronger European measures against Russia’s war economy and its "shadow fleet," reiterating that Europe must play a central role in any future security guarantees for Ukraine.
• U.S. Congressional Presence: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson unexpectedly canceled the official House delegation amidst a funding dispute. However, numerous lawmakers, including Senator Lindsey Graham and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, attended independently, engaging in various panels and discussions.
• Iranian Opposition: Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s deposed shah, reiterated his call for U.S. intervention in Iran, describing its current government as the primary obstacle to freedom.

The conference proceedings unfolded against a backdrop of increasing European concern, with a preliminary report from conference staff earlier in the week starkly warning that the world had entered an era of "wrecking ball politics," with President Trump being "the most prominent of the demolition men" undermining the post-1945 international order.