Beyond tanks and tariffs: Europe’s culture war with Trump’s America
Hybrid event
Guests
Keynote
Sabine Verheyen, Vice President, European Parliament
Speakers
Caroline de Gruyter, European Affairs Correspondent, NRC Handelsblad
André Wilkens, Director, European Cultural Foundation
Pawel Zerka, Senior Policy Fellow, ECFR
Brando Benifei, Member, European Parliament
Chaired by
Sarah Wheaton, Chief Policy Correspondent, Politico
It’s no longer just about trade or NATO — Trump’s America is challenging Europe’s very values and identity.
It is backing like-minded allies across the EU, questioning Europe’s attachment to freedom and democracy, and eager to cast the continent as small, dependent, and immature. Ultimately, it seeks to remake Europe, and the West, in the MAGA image.
Europe has strong cards to play — but only if it is willing to leave its comfort zones.
This event marks the launch of the European Sentiment Compass 2025, an annual project by ECFR and the European Cultural Foundation. Following last year’s widely discussed Welcome to Barbieland, the 2025 edition examines European sentiment under Trump’s second presidency — and makes the case for why Europe must fight the culture war being waged against it.
Together with our guests, we will ask: what would it take for Europe not just to fight this war — but to win it?
A live stream of the event will be available here without registration.