European leaders divided over how far to accommodate Trump’s ‘wrecking ball’ politics and foreign policy

European leaders divided over how far to accommodate Trump’s ‘wrecking ball’ politics and foreign policy

US Democrats will use a security summit this weekend to urge European leaders to stand up to Donald Trump, with the continent divided over how to keep the unpredictable US president on side.

Democrats at the annual Munich Security Conference will include some of Trump’s most outspoken critics, such as the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, the New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Arizona senator Ruben Gallego and the Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer.

Newsom has already urged Europeans to realise that “grovelling to Trump’s needs” makes them “look pathetic on the world stage”, telling reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month he “should have brought a bunch of knee pads”.

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    • MashedTech@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      13 hours ago

      They should form a third party, as every other country has done when some people want to do things differently.

      • lmmarsano@group.ltEnglish
        3·
        12 hours ago

        So, you’re already telling everyone you don’t understand the spoiler effect, basically advocating the opposition to assure their own loss.

        Vote splitting is the most common cause of spoiler effects in FPP. In these systems, the presence of many ideologically-similar candidates causes their vote total to be split between them, placing these candidates at a disadvantage. This is most visible in elections where a minor candidate draws votes away from a major candidate with similar politics, thereby causing a strong opponent of both to win.

        A spoiler campaign in the United States is often one that cannot realistically win but can still determine the outcome by pulling support from a more competitive candidate.

        Any other bright ideas?

        • MashedTech@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          4 hours ago

          Exactly! Because the system is inherently flawed. Kind of that’s why I’m suggesting it. A dumpster fire, on top of a dumpster fire, on top of a dumpster fire all held together by duct tape. That’s life everywhere.

      • tb_@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        12 hours ago

        Ideally, yes. In practice, splitting their voter base in two would guarantee losing the presidency. The first past the post system of the US and UK needs to be reformed, not that their current major parties have any incentive to do so.

        All of which is to say, it’s a difficult situation.