The Munich Security Conference became the site of a sharp clash of worldviews between Europe and the United States under the presidency of Donald Trump. Speeches by American politicians, including Senator Marco Rubio, were perceived by European participants as radical and nationalist. German opposition leader Friedrich Merz openly distanced himself from the 'culture war' of the MAGA movement, emphasizing differences in values.

Criticism of Trump's Message

European politicians and journalists sharply criticized the ideological message coming from the USA, perceiving it as a call for "white, Christian nationalism."

Merz's Distance from MAGA

CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz publicly stated that the cultural struggle of the MAGA movement is "not ours," clearly separating European Christian Democracy from American populism.

Conference as a Tool for Narrative

The Munich forum is seen not as a place for neutral analysis, but as a platform for building a specific political narrative, first anti-Russian and now anti-American.

Fundamental Clash of Values

The debate revealed a deep rift in the fundamental values that have hitherto formed the basis of the transatlantic alliance.

This year's Munich Security Conference revealed a deep crisis of values in transatlantic relations. Speeches by American politicians associated with the Donald Trump administration were met with sharp, ideological criticism from European participants. An article in ZEIT ONLINE described Senator Marco Rubio's speech as a "radical-ideological message of a blackmailer." The author, Holger Stark, interpreted it as a call for Europe to join a vision of "white, Christian nationalism." This assessment shows how much the shared axiological foundation of the alliance has been undermined.

„„Die Rede von Marco Rubio sei „vor allem ein Bekenntnis zum weißen, christlichen Nationalismus, dem sich Europa doch endlich anschließen möge”.”” — Holger Stark (in ZEIT ONLINE)

German Christian Democratic leader Friedrich Merz expressed this distance even more strongly, publicly distancing himself from the Kulturkampf of the MAGA movement. His words emphasized that while European conservatives may agree with America on some economic or foreign policy issues, a chasm separates them in the realm of social and cultural values.

„„Der Kulturkampf der MAGA-Bewegung sei „nicht unserer”.”” — Friedrich Merz

The Munich Security Conference has been held annually since 1963 and is considered the world's most important forum for security policy discussions. After the end of the Cold War, it became a key platform for dialogue between NATO and Russia, although the atmosphere deteriorated significantly after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Traditionally, it served to strengthen transatlantic ties.

The Italian newspaper "Il Fatto Quotidiano" points to another function of the conference. In its view, the forum has for years primarily served to build a specific political narrative, first around the Russian threat, and now around fundamental differences with Trump-era America. This suggests that the conference is more an instrument for shaping political consensus than a place for open, substantive debate.

An article in "Frankfurter Allgemeine" adds a note of irony to this criticism. The newspaper indicates that while Europe indignantly criticizes American populism and nationalism, anti-liberal and xenophobic sentiments are also growing within European societies themselves. Condemning Trump may thus be a form of transference and denial of the continent's own internal problems. The dispute at the conference therefore reflects not only a transatlantic rift but also Europe's deep internal anxiety in the face of contemporary challenges.

Perspektywy mediów: Left-wing and liberal European media portray the rhetoric of Trump and his supporters as a direct threat to democratic values and the multicultural order in Europe, emphasizing its racist and authoritarian undertones. Conservative and right-wing media in the USA and Europe may view this criticism as hypocrisy from the establishment and a rejection of national sovereignty and traditional values that the MAGA movement seeks to protect.

Mentioned People

  • Marco Rubio — United States Senator from Florida, who delivered a controversial speech at the conference.
  • Friedrich Merz — Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the German opposition party.
  • Holger Stark — Journalist for the German weekly 'Die Zeit', author of a critical analysis of Rubio's speech.