Europe Needs a Plan for Trump’s Comeback – Watching America

His presidency had grave consequences. A second term would be even more radical.

“Not even Donald Trump will recover from this. We’re rid of that problem!” Those who

examined the state of U.S. politics after the storming of the Capitol in 2021 found a lot of

consternation but also relief. The career of the outgoing president seemed to be over.

It’s an assessment that is still predominant in Europe today. The Americans definitely wouldn’t

be stupid enough to elect Donald Trump once again. But that’s not the case, unfortunately.

According to polls, the possibility of his winning is no less than that of a coin toss: 50-50. Joe

Biden may be the less bad candidate from the Democrats’ perspective. But the 80-year-old is

not a shoo-in.

Many think to themselves, “But didn’t Trump’s first term pass us by without causing any

damage?” Not really: delayed climate policies, empowerment of Vladimir Putin, COVID-19

policies, erosion of political culture — the consequences are everywhere. And today’s Trump is

different. Since he was voted out of office, he has become more radicalized. And hundreds are

already working in think tanks to ready his anti-democratic agenda and isolationist foreign

policy as best they can.

Europe, which depends heavily on the U.S. in the war in Ukraine, can’t not care about all this.

And closing our eyes doesn’t make it all go away. We need a Plan B.