TeaThe unimaginable has happened. America is the enemy of Europe. There lies deep, deep betrayal in the Trump administration national security strategy Any kind of denial and avoidance must stop in the capitals of Europe. Developing “resistance in European countries to Europe’s current trajectory” is now Washington’s stated policy.
But within this disaster lies the gift of clarity. Europe will fight or perish. The good news is that Europe holds strong cards.
America’s bet on AI is now so big that every Manga voter has a pension bound to The uncertain existence of the bubble. AI investment now rival consumer spending As the primary generator of American economic growth. It accounted for almost all (92%) of GDP growth in the first half of this year. Without it, the U.S. GDP grew only 0.1%Despite Donald Trump’s stance, his financial condition is shaky,
Trump’s political alliance is also unstable. in July and again this month, he has been unable to force Senate Republicans passed their AI moratorium bill, which would have prevented states from drafting their own AI laws. Steve Bannon Wing of MAGA apprehension That AI will displace workers on a large scale, and what else is feared are in contact with children On digital platform. sought voter Particularly distrust of the political power of big tech. Tech is a dangerous topic for Trump.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has two cards to play that could burst the AI bubble. If she does this, Trump’s presidency will be in trouble.
First, the Dutch company ASML holds a global monopoly on microchip-etching machines that use light to create patterns on silicon. These machines are essential to Nvidia, the AI microchip giant that is now the world’s largest the most valuable Company. ASML is one of Europe’s most valuable companies, and European banks and private equity have also invested in AI. Stopping these silicon-etching machines would be difficult for Europe, and extremely painful for the Dutch economy. But it will be much more painful for Trump.
If European export controls slow or stop exports to the US – and Taiwan, where Nvidia produces its most advanced chips – America’s rapid investment in AI and datacenters will be at risk. Through this lever, Europe has the means to decide whether and by how much the US economy will expand or contract.
The second, and much easier for Europe, is to enforce the EU’s long-neglected data rules against big US tech companies. Confidential corporate documents made public US lawsuit Show how insecure companies like Google can be in enforcing basic data rules. Meanwhile, the meta has been Unable to tell US court What its internal systems do with your data, or who can access it, or for what purpose.
This data is free for all, letting big tech companies train their AI models on everyone’s data, but it is illegal in Europe, where companies are required to carefully control and pay attention to how they use personal data. All Brussels needs to do is crack down on Ireland, which it has been doing for years A wild west of lax data enforcementAnd its ill effects will be felt far and wide.
If the EU had the courage to apply this pressure, these US tech companies would have to rebuild their technologies from the ground up to properly handle data. They also have to tell investors that their AI tools have been blocked from accessing Europe’s valuable market unless they comply. The AI bubble will be unlikely to survive this double blow.
MAGA voters did not vote to lose their liberties and constitutional rights, and an increasingly authoritarian Trump who cannot provide economic stability because of his proximity to a reviled tech industry is likely to be highly unpopular in the 2026 midterm elections.
The balance of risks now demands that European leaders cripple Trump. he has learned for a year inferior Kneeling in front of Trump, he said that such behavior makes it easier for him to put pressure on him. The reasons for caution are ending. overreaction The relatively modest €120m fine recently imposed on Ax by MAGA leaders shows that punches won’t placate them. Trump’s “28-point plan” for Ukraine dispelled any illusion that European concessions would secure a withdrawal of the US military commitment.
Now that its democracy is clearly at risk, Europe must join with India, Brazil and China to stand up to Trump.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is an example of doing so. He has remained dignified and steadfast in the face of Trump’s extraordinary bullying. In the same month, in September, he announced in a open letter Told Trump that his country’s democracy and sovereignty cannot be compromised, countered Trump’s tariffs with tariffs of their own and Passed a new law binding digital platforms To protect children in Brazil from sexual exploitation and other online harm.
He then lashed out at Trump in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly just before Trump’s turn to speak. As a result of Lula’s refusal to cower, Trump softened his tone Immediatelynow tariffs are lower expected After talks between the two leaders.
Trump said this in early December he thinks Europe’s leaders are weak. They do not believe that they will defend the freedoms and hard-won democracies of European peoples against them. So far, feedback From european The leaders are proving them right. But Trump has not yet understood that von der Leyen holds the American economy and his presidency in her hands. He must have the courage to go completely beyond any previous norms of his behavior. In other words, if she catches Trump where it hurts, Europe will win this battle.
