Nationalist Parties Backed by White House, European Leaders Warn

European officials have expressed alarm at the White House signaling support for nationalist parties across Europe, viewing this as unacceptable interference in continental politics. The concern comes as Donald Trump pressures Ukraine on territorial concessions while making inflammatory statements about European immigration.
Trump’s push for a Ukraine peace settlement includes demands that President Zelenskyy accept land transfers to Russia within an extremely short timeframe. US envoys have reportedly given Ukraine only days to respond, with Trump seeking to announce a deal before Christmas. The president’s public statements about Russian military superiority have raised concerns about American commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty.
The president’s characterization of Europe employed explicitly racial framing regarding immigration and demographic change. Trump claimed that European nations are “destroying themselves” through immigration policies, using language that emphasized populations from Africa and the Middle East. His endorsement of controversial leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán has been interpreted as part of a broader pattern of supporting nationalist movements in Europe.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan received particularly harsh personal attacks from Trump, with the president using severe insults while criticizing London’s changing character. Trump’s focus on demographic shifts and his harsh language toward London’s first Muslim mayor have been widely interpreted as connected issues. Khan characterized Trump’s continued attention as an inexplicable obsession.
European Council President António Costa stated explicitly that “what we cannot accept is the threat to interfere in European politics.” His comments reflected broader concerns among European leaders about American support for nationalist parties that have clashed with EU institutions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Europe can manage its own democratic affairs, while EU officials described the White House approach as provocative. The situation has strengthened European determination to develop independent political and security capabilities, with Pope Leo XIV warning that Trump’s stance threatens the transatlantic alliance.