Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and France’s National Rally have begun distancing themselves from the political positions of US President Donald Trump, reflecting changing public attitudes in Europe towards Washington’s foreign policy. The shift, reported on January 16, 2026, marks a notable adjustment for parties that had previously sought closer alignment with Trump’s administration as a means of boosting their own international standing, according to analysis of the evolving relationship between European populists and the White House in coverage of AfD and National Rally reassessing their approach to Trump.
In Germany, AfD figures who once viewed ties with the US administration as a way out of domestic political isolation are now more cautious. Recent opinion polls indicate a deterioration in German public perceptions of Trump, driven largely by dissatisfaction with what is seen as an aggressive and unilateral foreign policy that pays limited attention to European interests.
Tactical distancing driven by domestic calculations
Party strategists acknowledge that the recalibration is less about ideology than electoral pragmatism. AfD leaders had hoped that engagement with influential US conservatives would lend the party legitimacy at home and amplify its voice in European debates, particularly on Ukraine, sanctions policy and NATO. As public sentiment has shifted, however, overt association with Trump has become politically costly.
A similar pattern has emerged in France, where National Rally figures have also softened their rhetoric towards the US president. Observers say both parties are closely tracking voter attitudes and adjusting messaging to avoid alienating sections of the electorate unsettled by Washington’s confrontational tone on the global stage.
Populism, sovereignty and fractures within Europe
The rise of far-right parties across Europe has been fuelled by socio-economic pressures, migration and declining trust in traditional political elites. Their platforms typically combine nationalist rhetoric with calls for greater sovereignty and criticism of EU institutions, which they portray as distant and unresponsive.
At the same time, many of these movements advocate closer ties with Russia and a reduction in sanctions, positioning themselves against the prevailing European consensus on security and support for Ukraine. Analysts warn that their growing influence in national parliaments and European bodies could complicate the formation of coherent foreign and security policies.
Implications for Western cohesion
The adjustment in tone towards Trump does not signal a fundamental shift in the worldview of Europe’s far right, but it highlights their sensitivity to political winds. Russia continues to exploit such divisions, leveraging polarisation and disinformation to weaken EU and NATO unity and promote narratives of Western fragmentation.
For European policymakers, the episode underscores how external actors and domestic populist movements intersect, shaping debates on transatlantic relations, collective security and support for Ukraine. While distancing from Trump may be tactical, the broader challenge of maintaining Western cohesion in the face of internal and external pressures remains unresolved.
