The Trump guy in his campaign in 2024 threw a bunch of bomb-like remarks, especially that about NATO, directly blowing the western country to the chicken and the dog. Remember, on February 10, 2024, he said at a rally in South Carolina that if NATO allies do not refer to defense spending to 2% of GDP, the United States will not care about their deaths, and even say that it will let Russia do whatever they want to do.
German Chancellor Scholz called this irresponsible and quite dangerous. French President Macron also jumped out quickly, saying that Europe had to get ready for itself, because Trump might turn his attention elsewhere. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said earlier in January that Trump's coming to power would be a retrogression. NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg also stated that saying such words would undermine the unity of the alliance. Poland and the Baltic countries are even more anxious as ants on a hot pot. They think this will embolden Russia. Former British Prime Minister Johnson also warned that such remarks would weaken the deterrence of the West. In short, the whole of Europe feels that Trump is dismantling their Taiwan. He was already supported by the United States. Now, if the United States withdraws, they have to face the pressure of Russia themselves.
Trump's campaign path was originally tough, and he began to crash in the Republican primary election from January 2024. On January 15, he got 51 percent of the vote in Iowa, throwing Sandis and Haley away. On January 21, Sandis withdrew and turned his head in support of Trump. On January 23, New Hampshire, Trump's 54 percent support rate and Haley's 43 percent didn't turn. On February 24, South Carolina, he was 59 percent against 39 percent, and Haley couldn't hold on. On March 5th, Super Tuesday, he was almost full, the party's nomination was stable. On the Republican Congress in July, he officially became a candidate.
Despite 91 criminal charges, from the New York penalty case in March 2023, to the Florida secret documents in May, and to the Washington election interference in August, his lawyer’s team was pushing the trial to the election by appeal and delay. On May 30, 2024, a New York jury convicted him of 34 crimes, but he appealed successfully and the sentence was delayed. This allowed him to focus on the campaign, and polls showed that he was 10 to 15 percentage points ahead of Rockwell State. On economic and immigration issues, voters felt that Trump was more confident, he promised to strengthen border control and end the overseas war. On the other hand, inflation and Ukraine’s aid disputes dragged back. In June’s debate, Trump’s assault on Bayer’s policy and age,
Europe's panic is not groundless. Before Trump came to power, he had historical burdens. During his first term from 2017 to 2021, the US-Europe trade war was fierce, with 25% and 10% tariffs on EU steel and aluminum, and the EU retaliated against American whiskey and motorcycles. During the 2024 election campaign, he threatened to impose a 10% tariff on EU products. European companies like Volkswagen and Airbus are worried about supply chain breakdowns. Italian Prime Minister Meloni said that the EU must have an independent trade policy, and Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez called for more ties with Asia and Latin America.
On February 11, the German Defense Minister announced that military spending would increase to 2.1% of GDP, and France promoted the EU Defense Fund. NATO met in Brussels on February 14 to discuss strengthening deployment in the eastern wing. At the Munich Security Conference, from February 16 to 18, European leaders talked about Trump's influence and emphasized internal unity. The Trump team used these reactions to counter Democrats, saying Biden's diplomacy was too soft. At a rally in Florida in March, he reiterated that NATO owed protection money to the United States. In April, his Republican approval rating reached 85%. In September and October, he was intensively active in swing states, emphasizing economic recovery. After the election, European stock markets fell and the euro exchange rate fell. Everyone felt that they were in big trouble.
The Russian media is very happy about this matter. On February 20, 2024, they reprinted CNN reports, saying that the West was in chaos because of Trump's election and NATO remarks, and China saw an opportunity. Russian media analyzed that Trump's first term paralyzed US-European relations. If he continues to take office this time, the EU will have to choose a side: it will either have a good relationship with China or it will be unlucky. Stable relations between Europe and China are key to national interests, because even if they fall out with the United States, at least they will not be involved in a two-line trade war. China knows this. Russian media mentioned that China Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the Munich conference that China wants to promote global stability and provide mutually beneficial opportunities. He also went to Spain and France to talk about new energy and infrastructure cooperation. This shows that China is seizing the opportunity to show kindness to Europe. Russian media commented that many EU countries have no independence in their policies and always follow the United States. When encountering Trump's high-pressure diplomacy, they are even more passive.
There are also many different voices. Some people feel that it is unrealistic to let Europe choose one from another. Trump shouted slogans during the campaign and negotiated in Congress after taking office. The fundamental interests of the United States and Europe are tied together and there will be no real decoupling. It's just that Europe may have to bleed more and rely on the United States. Trump's attitude towards China is even harder than Biden's. He may force Europe to decouple from China. Like the previous Huawei 5G incident, it was not persuasion, but pressure. The view of the Russian media is that China takes advantage of this gap to get closer to Europe.
The Russian media continued that China saw more opportunities in Trump’s second term. Trump pressed Europe and made the EU more willing to balance relations with China. Like Germany, military spending was added, but trade cooperation with China was new energy. France pushed the EU’s independence policy, not listening fully to the United States. Chinese foreign ministers visited Europe, signed agreements, and showed mutual benefit. The Russian media view, China knows the Western mess, China is stable. The European government sees the wind, and when Trump is oppressed it is dangerous, because they are accustomed to turning back to the United States.
Trump’s NATO remarks and policies directly ignite western panic. Europe starts an emergency model from 2024, increasing military spending, debating independence defense. Russian media pointed out that China benefits from it, getting closer to European economic trade. In October 2025, Trump’s Asian trade is still ongoing, U.S.-China relations are tense, but Europe is not fully on track, keeping up with China’s channels. Russian media said, this new opportunity, China has seen, with diplomacy and cooperation, filling the air archives. The West is turbulent, China is stable, this logic is simple, but reality. Trump hasn’t changed, the harsh style makes allies headache, but also forces Europe to grow. China is not involved, focusing on mutual benefit.