Trump’s global shadow: How his presidency is shaping politics in Canada, Australia, Germany, Singapore, and the UK

US President Donald Trump - File Photo

US President Donald Trump’s return to power has begun to reshape global politics once again—but not always in ways that favour his ideological allies. In recent national and regional elections across Canada, Australia, Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, Trump’s aggressive policy shifts have become a defining, and often divisive, backdrop for voters and political leaders alike, the New York Times reported.

Canada and Australia: Anti-Trump messaging helps centrists win

In both Canada and Australia, centre-left incumbents defied predictions and secured electoral victories that, just months earlier, had seemed unlikely. What united these otherwise distinct political contests was a growing backlash against conservative leaders seen as too closely aligned with Trump-style populism.

In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney explicitly made President Trump’s threats to Canada the centrepiece of his campaign. With Trump’s tariffs already rattling Canada’s economy, Carney’s pitch for stability resonated deeply. His conservative opponent, Pierre Poilievre, failed to pivot from Trumpian rhetoric, and not only lost the election—but also his own seat in Parliament.

Australia witnessed a strikingly similar dynamic. Though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn’t run on an anti-Trump platform, his opponent Peter Dutton had earlier embraced Trump-style policies, including calls for deep public-sector cuts. As Trump’s foreign policy disruptions escalated, Dutton’s proximity to those ideas turned toxic with voters. He too lost his seat.

Charles Edel of the Center for Strategic and International Studies described the Australian result as a “blowout,” suggesting that Trump’s escalating trade tensions played a significant role in undermining conservative momentum across both nations.

Singapore: A vote for stability amid global uncertainty

In Singapore, where elections are less competitive, the ruling People’s Action Party still leveraged the global disruption caused by Trump’s tariffs to strengthen its hand. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned Parliament that the American president’s trade agenda posed serious risks to Singapore’s export-driven economy. His message—that the world order enabling Singapore’s rise was disintegrating—reinforced a “flight to safety” mentality among voters, helping the party secure another decisive victory.

Cherian George, an author and expert on Singaporean politics, said the Trump effect was undeniable: “The sense of deep concern about Trump’s trade wars is driving a decisive number of voters to show strong support for the incumbent.”

Germany: Trump helps Merz after the vote

In Germany, the Trump factor has played out more subtly. Friedrich Merz, who will be sworn in as chancellor this week, did not see a clear electoral boost from Trump’s presidency. But Trump’s confrontational stance toward NATO and European allies gave Merz the political cover

to push through controversial domestic reforms, including suspending spending limits—an otherwise difficult sell in austerity-minded Germany.

Trump’s presence also failed to buoy Germany’s far-right AfD, despite vocal support from MAGA figures including Elon Musk. The party gained little from its association with Trumpism and remains politically isolated.

United Kingdom: A backlash against Labour, a boost for Trump’s allies

In Britain, Trump’s effect has been more unpredictable. Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially adopted a cooperative approach, avoiding direct criticism of the American president and emphasizing continuity in US-UK relations. His early success culminated in a well-received White House visit.

However, Starmer’s attempts to translate diplomatic success into trade relief failed. As American tariffs on British goods remained in place, frustration at home mounted. In last week’s regional and local elections, Starmer’s Labour Party lost 187 council seats and a parliamentary by-election.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, a party openly aligned with Trump’s populist agenda, surged dramatically. The party won control of local councils for the first time and flipped two mayoralties. Despite Farage’s controversial stances, including past remarks about Russia, his party’s electoral momentum underscores the appeal of anti-establishment rhetoric in parts of the UK.

A global referendum on Trump?

Though it’s too soon to declare a worldwide anti-Trump movement, recent election results suggest that President Trump’s influence continues to reverberate far beyond American borders. In some cases, it is proving politically costly for those who emulate his playbook. In others, it is redefining national strategies and rekindling debates about security, sovereignty, and economic resilience.

As Charles Edel put it, “There were enough similarities [between Canada and Australia] to suggest that the conservatives’ fortunes fell as Trump’s tariffs and attacks on America’s allies ramped up.”

The Trump factor may not be on the ballot globally, but it is undeniably in the minds of voters—and shaping political destinies one election at a time.