The MAGA Threat to Europe: Broader and Deeper than the Trump National Security Strategy

The latest National Security Strategy (NSS) highlighted the direct threat the Trump administration poses to Europe. This threat extends beyond seizing Greenland and affects a broader array of issues and groups, including various non-government organizations. As a driving policy goal, the administration seeks to internationalize its authoritarian MAGA vision to undermine democracy, rule of law, and civil/human rights in Europe, which will also weaken allies of those in the US who oppose authoritarianism domestically.

Internationalizing the MAGA Agenda

The NSS undertakes unprecedented criticism of European governance, society, and culture, reversing over 80 years of US policy. It reflects the administration’s domestic ideology and seeks to transform European societies along similar lines—ideological imperialism designed around a far-right, traditionalist concept of white, Christian, European civilization. The NSS denounces mass migration (people from non-white, Christian societies) and criticizes efforts to combat hate speech and disinformation as attacks on free speech. It also disparaged global organizations, norms, and rules guiding the European and international order since WWII.

These goals reflect an ideological stream that has secured strong positions in the administration. At the Munich Security Conference last February, Vice President Vance attacked Europe, stating his greatest fear was “the threat within.” He supported Germany’s Alliance for Democracy, which the German state considers an extremist group. Last May, the State Department issued “The Need for Civilizational Allies,” laying out similar concepts. In Fall 2025, the State Department sent talking points to US Embassies advocating harsh immigration crackdowns. In December 2025, the US revoked travel visas of five Europeans involved in restricting disinformation and hate speech.

Broad Role for Far Right Non-government Organizations

These official actions draw roots from the wider non-governmental far-right community. In June 2025, the Heritage Foundation (authors of Project 2025) produced “Toward a Nationalist Internationalism: The Case for Building a National Conservative Alliance.” This presaged elements of the NSS and indicates the administration’s ambitions to change European governments by supporting parties and movements in order to impose far-right policies on immigration, religion, culture, gender/sexuality, and traditional families—essentially taking Project 2025 on a European tour. Their goals parallel domestic policies and reflect the objective of establishing a far-right “Internationale” vaguely similar to the Soviet-led COMINTERN of the pre-WWII era.

The administration builds upon an expanding network of like-minded parties. All European countries have far-right parties with similar ideologies. Hungary, under Prime Minister Orban and FIDESZ, has emerged as the dominant element and poster-child for what the far right seeks to achieve. Since Orban returned to power in 2010, Hungary has seen significant decline in rule of law, adherence to democratic principles and policies, protection of minority rights, and free speech as measured by multiple rating groups, while corruption has steadily increased. Consequently, the EU placed sanctions on Budapest, and in early January 2025 the US sanctioned its intelligence minister for corruption.

Beyond political parties, there’s a growing web of advocacy groups and think tanks in Europe with ties to US counterparts that the administration leverages. Perhaps the two most prominent in Europe are Hungary’s Mathais Corvin Collegium (MCC) and Poland’s Ordi Luris Institute. In the US, the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC), for example, holds conferences in Europe, Hungary in 2022 and Poland in 2025 and regularly invites European far-right groups to US conferences. All focus on building a stronger international network for mutual support to advance their shared ideological agendas.

The growing ties among these non-governmental groups may be the greatest threat to Europe because of the administration’s embrace of changing non-far-right governments and pressuring European states to adopt authoritarian MAGA policies. From Vance’s February 2025 statement through the November NSS, the administration has a vision for Europe—parallel “Make (country) Great Again” movements running the governments.

America First Leadership Needs a Far-Right Europe to Follow It

The administration’s policy towards Europe will be shaped by trade, commercial, and traditional national security concerns, and consequently, it may turn to non-governmental allies to push its ideological agenda—not unlike the Soviet Union’s use of Communist parties in the 20^th century. While the State Department embraces this far-right agenda, the administration has not yet harnessed the US military or intelligence community to pursue authoritarian policies in Europe. Such action could undermine NATO and essential intelligence relationships, especially if seeking to actively subvert democratic governance. While once unimaginable, given actions against Venezuela and threats to Greenland and Canada, this may be on the policy menu.

Despite its advocacy of national sovereignty, the administration and wider far-right movement ironically see international ties as essential and view strong, far-right, non-government organizations operating in multinational networks as vital to their ideological success. In a further irony, despite disparaging views of Europe, they view Europe as essential to building a white, Christian, far-right society in the US. European heritage is central to their worldview. The movement recognizes that achieving domestic goals requires parallel success in Europe, both to legitimize itself and weaken allies of its opponents inside the US.

Some have interpreted the NSS as dividing the world into spheres of influence—the US gets the Americas, China gets East Asia, and Russia gets Europe. The NSS and administration appear to disagree; they want Europe in their sphere, but it must be a MAGA-like Europe. As the Heritage paper states, America First may become America Alone. Even as the administration downplays traditional relationships with Europe, especially the EU, it clearly has a high-priority agenda to undermine European governments that don’t adhere to its authoritarian ideology via official actions and a non-government network.

Harry Hannah retired after four decades of experience in the Intelligence Community. He retired from the CIA in 2018. About half that time was focused on analyzing the capability of multiple foreign militaries in direct support of US military planning and operations and national level decision making. He is a member of The Steady State.

Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 360 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines, including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs, and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.

All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the US Government. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying US Government authentication of information or endorsement of the author’s views.