Applause for isolationism, criticism of the EU: At a conference near the capital Washington, Donald Trump’s American rights celebrates hard line in the Ukraine War. The annual event is a collection basin for right -wing, conspiracy theorists and religious rights in which moderate tones are rather not common. This time there is an unusually international note for domestic political cultural struggle for the conservative political action conference (CPAC).
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is by no means the main topic in the red-white-blue-decorated scenery, but still comes up noticeably often. With traditional alliances, US President Trump and his supporters have nothing to do with the hat – and the reaction of the audience leaves no doubt.
Applause when Trump’s disparagement by the Ukrainian head of state Wolodymyr Selenskyj is defended on stage as a “dictator”. Applause, when the former US ambassador in Germany, Richard Grenell, sounds confidently: In the case of the security guarantees for Ukraine, the focus is not on American soldiers and weapons, but above all “American business people who do deals on site”.
It is the typical style of that man who is very popular with all guests here: Donald Trump. He recently made headlines in particular to cover Selenskyj with abuse and to blame the Ukrainian leadership even for Russia’s war. Trump has considered the country’s raw materials and ties US aids for the exploitation of their valuable stock of rare earths for the war-torn Ukraine. Selenskyj apparently did not want to accept this – and thus suffered the displeasure of the most powerful man in the world, who is not known to tolerate contradiction.
“America First” as a motto of foreign policy
The keyword Ukraine keeps falling at the CPAC conference, just as it is always about Europe. At the event in the huge National Harbor event complex, Trump’s conservative isolationism is not only socially acceptable, he encounters unbridled enthusiasm. It is the counter -design to the interventionist foreign policy of Republican predecessors such as Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush. “America First” is the name of the new motto – there is no consideration for long -term partners.
Vice Jdvance is on stage, who was headed by the European allies a week ago at the Munich Security Conference: “The entire German defense is subsidized by the American taxpayer.” The transatlantic alliance now seems to have more opponents than advocates in the White House. And when he appeared, Trump’s security advisor Mike Waltz has no doubt that Selenskyj will soon sign a raw material agreement with the United States.
The new US government, it celebrates the right of the stronger. Support from the United States should only be exchanged for consideration that is forced if necessary: America first, and all for themselves, so to speak. This does not mean that there would be no international guests at CPAC – quite the contrary: here the end of the shoulder between the American and international right is obvious. The foreign representatives – such as Argentina’s ultra -liberal President Javier Milei and the Russia -friendly Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who accuses Europeans of warning, are also primarily for nationalist politics.
“Choice of Trump should be a wake -up call for Europeans”
Like the heads of state and government, 24-year-old Frenchman Gabriel Durand came across the Atlantic to National Harbor- with the “Patriots for Europe Foundation”. The European Foundation based in Paris is close to the right wing faction in the European Parliament, pursues a national conservative agenda and is committed to the fight against the supposedly prevailing “Woke” ideology of the left.
Durand thinks that the Ukraine line of the new US government makes sense. “What we want is peace,” he says. Of course, like the foundation, he is behind the Ukrainian people. However, the interests of Europe and the United States are not necessarily congruent.
In front of him there are blue and white stickers with the inscription “Make Europe Great Again” – a reference to Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again”. But what does it mean for Durand to make Europe “great” again? His answer: “Donald Trump’s choice should be a wake -up call for us Europeans.” The EU faces the same challenges as the USA – such as “massive immigration” – and must “defend European identity, European democracy and sovereignty of every nation”.
“USA will stay on the bill”
Migration also played a central role for Keaton Butowsky. The 27-year-old traveled from the Texas Dallas to the CPAC conference to exchange ideas with like-minded people. At the beginning, Butowsky makes it clear that he does not support all of Trump’s statements or actions. In particular, this often perceives sharp rhetoric. But as a Texan – the state is located directly on the border with Mexico – he has a clear attitude towards migration: nobody should come into the country without permission.
As far as Ukraine is concerned, Butowsky expresses a feeling that he shares with many Americans – and that Trump also serves with its populist politics: the United States would be treated unjustly with NATO spending and would have to be disproportionately high for the defense of other countries Provide while “fighting several wars across an ocean”. In particular, states that, like Germany are “at the forefront”, did not pay their fair contribution, he complains. “And then it is the United States that stay on the bill.”
If all allies had followed NATO agreements and invested accordingly in defense, Butowsky believes that the situation would be another today. “If every country would prepare adequately, then the whole thing would not have been such a big problem.”
