As the populist wave inspired by Donald Trump’s presidency begins to lose steam globally, right-wing politicians are scrambling to distance themselves from the US president’s aggressive stance and trade policies.
The Erosion of Trump‘s Populist Appeal: A Global Phenomenon
Born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, Donald Trump is a businessman, television personality, and politician.
He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics.
Trump's business career began in real estate, developing his father's company into a global empire.
He hosted 'The Apprentice' reality TV show from 2004 to 2015.
In 2016, he won the presidential election as the Republican candidate and served one term as the 45th President of the United States.
Donald Trump‘s initial ascent to the presidency inspired right-wing populist politicians around the world, many of whom sought to emulate his anti-establishment and anti-immigrant messaging. However, in his second term, Trump‘s aggressive trade policies and confrontational stance toward America’s allies are threatening to turn that populist wave into a dangerous undertow.
The ‘Trump bump‘ that populist candidates had anticipated is turning into a ‘Trump slump.’ In some countries, including those facing national elections soon, political leaders who’ve advocated a homegrown style of MAGA are suddenly scrambling to distance themselves from the U.S. president.
Donald Trump's presidency had a significant impact on global politics, economies, and societies.
His 'America First' policy led to increased protectionism, withdrawal from international agreements, and strained relationships with key allies.
The US withdrawal from the 'Paris Climate Accord' and the 'Iran nuclear deal' sparked widespread criticism.
Trump's influence also extended to social issues, including immigration, healthcare, and racial tensions.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, 53% of Americans believed that Trump's presidency had a negative impact on America's global standing.
Tariffs have been a particular flashpoint, with Trump‘s tariffs putting populist leaders on the back foot and may ironically very well push them to greater moderation. Take Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, who has embraced anti-establishment and anti-‘woke’ rhetoric and has even been labeled ‘Canada’s Trump.’ His Conservatives initially surged in the lead-up to the country’s elections next Monday, but a Trump backlash is a major cause of their stalled momentum.
The dominant issue in Canada is Trump‘s looming influence in reshaping our politics. The electorate is looking for serious leaders with credible plans who can confront, not accommodate, the U.S. president. Poilievre has largely abandoned his ‘Canada First‘ slogan, which parallels Trump‘s ‘America First.’ As Trump ramped up provocative talk about annexing Canada, Poilievre pushed back, declaring, ‘Canada will never be the 51st state.’
However, calling Canada’s prime minister ‘governor’ and suggesting it become the 51st state has backfired for Trump. Canadians are insulted and moving away from conservative populism as a result. If the election had been held last year, Poilievre‘s Trump-style of politics would have helped, but now he is finding it difficult to shake off his association with Trump.
A similar story is unfolding in Australia, where voters head to the polls on May 3. Opposition leader Peter Dutton, a right-wing populist who once described Trump as ‘a big thinker,’ and has called for cutting off funding for schools deemed to have a ‘woke‘ agenda, is challenging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The Coalition initially had the wind at its back but has since lost ground. The number of Australians who believe the U.S. can be trusted to act responsibly on the world stage has plunged over the past year, from 56% to 36%. This is a record low since the Lowy Institute began asking the question in 2006.
Dutton has attempted to distance himself from aspects of Trump‘s agenda, especially on trade. However, his campaign has been marred by controversy, including a remark at a rally where Sen. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price declared that the Coalition would ‘make Australia great again.‘ This sparked a damage-control response from National Party leader David Littleproud.
The association with Trump‘s brand of politics is not limited to Canada and Australia. In Europe, right-wing leaders are struggling to maintain their appeal. Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right National Front party, once embraced Trump as a political role model but now seems to view him more as a liability.
In Germany, the performance of the avowedly anti-immigrant AfD party at the polls has been a notable exception, when it surged to become the second-biggest party in Germany’s Bundestag. However, public sentiment toward Trump remains overwhelmingly negative, with only one-in-seven Germans viewing him favorably.
Meanwhile, other right-wing leaders, such as Hungary’s Viktor Orban, whom Trump has repeatedly praised in the past, seem to remain firmly ensconced, likely more because of his increasingly authoritarian control over democratic institutions than genuine appeal to voters.
However, there is a glimmer of hope for right-wing populists. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who visited the White House in recent days to meet with Trump, may represent a way forward for right-wing populists wanting to balance their political survival while steering a middle road. She’s been seen as a ‘Trump whisperer‘ who could bridge the gap between the U.S. president and other European leaders.
Giorgia Meloni is an Italian politician who became the country's first female prime minister in October 2022.
Born on January 15, 1977, in Rome, Italy, she co-founded the Brothers of Italy party in 2012.
Meloni has been a member of the European Parliament and served as Minister for Youth and Sport from 2008 to 2011.
She won the '2022 Italian general election' with her coalition, becoming the country's first female leader.
Meloni has made a point of demarcating her positions carefully, appearing to see eye-to-eye with Trump on immigration and cultural conservatism but not on the war in Ukraine. Unlike Trump, she has been careful to unequivocally label Putin the aggressor. She said U.S. tariffs are ‘wrong‘ but offered to help make a deal between the White House and the EU to lift them.
Meloni is a very clever politician, says Vivien Schmidt, who may represent a way forward for right-wing populists. What she’s doing on the economy and Ukraine is very mainstream, center-right. She splits the difference between Trump and a more mainstream European view.
