Staff Reports
The recent arrival of conservative leaders from Europe in Washington has confirmed what many already knew: President Trump’s victorious return to the political arena is igniting a populist renaissance on the continent. Delegates from the European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR) gathered stateside, and it’s clear they are riding high on the coattails of Trump’s signature MAGA movement, ready to launch their own versions of “Make Europe Great Again.”
This fifteen-member ECR delegation made its way to the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, not just to wave flags but to engage in serious networking and idea-swapping with their American counterparts. These European leaders are evidently keen on adopting the strategies that propelled Trump’s rise and are quite optimistic about the opportunities ahead. After all, it seems the conservative needle is finally starting to move again in some of their countries, with recent election results showing promising gains for center-right parties in places like Germany.
🚨🇪🇺TRUMP’S INFLUENCE SHAKES EUROPE AS CONSERVATIVE LEADERS RALLY IN MADRID
Viktor Orban, Marine Le Pen, and other leading European conservatives gathered in Madrid, rallying behind Trump’s return with their “Patriots for Europe” alliance ahead of the upcoming EU elections.… pic.twitter.com/GjVXJ4XwT8
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 8, 2025
Among the highlighted speakers at CPAC was none other than tech mogul Elon Musk, who evidently made quite an impression on Romanian nationalist leader George Simion, newly elected vice president of the ECR. Simion drew parallels between Musk’s insights and the tenets of the MAGA movement, suggesting that the spirit of America’s conservative resurgence could indeed morph into a European event of its own, rebranded as “Make Europe Great Again.” This is a phrase that is clearly resonating, especially in a political landscape that has felt stale for too long.
ECR Secretary General Antonio Giordano, affiliated with Italy’s Brothers of Italy Party, laid it out plainly: Trump’s resilience through adversity serves as a shining example that conservative values can once again emerge victorious. While many within the mainstream media clutch their pearls at the mention of “anti-woke values,” these European conservatives are excitedly embracing the notion that a commitment to fundamental freedoms is essential—not just for America, but for Europe too.
The American political scene is not without its tensions, however. Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent remarks in Germany regarding free speech and immigration, which went over like a lead balloon, have still earned him accolades back in the ECR camp. European conservatives recognize the importance of being unapologetic about their beliefs, especially when it comes to challenging the iron grip of bureaucratic elites who seem to prefer drilling down on speech regulations rather than fostering genuine dialogue among their constituents.
Let’s not forget that this isn’t Europe’s first rodeo with a “MEGA” rallying cry. The likes of Hungary’s Viktor Orban have waxed lyrical about how Trump has reshaped the global political landscape, stating that conservative voices that were once considered fringe are now gaining a foothold. There’s a realization building that perhaps being the “heretics” of political thought isn’t such a bad place to start. With allies like these, the conservative movement in Europe is on the brink of a revival, drawing strength and inspiration from across the Atlantic.
