Trump’s trade war divides Europe’s far-right parties as economic fallout grows

Trump’s trade war exposes deep divisions within Germany’s AfD party.

US President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war has exposed deep divisions within Europe’s far-right movements, particularly in Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has openly aligned itself with Trump’s MAGA movement, the Financial Times reported.

Alice Weidel, one of the AfD’s co-leaders and a former Goldman Sachs analyst, criticised Trump’s reciprocal tariffs as “far too aggressive and self-defeating,” warning that they could badly damage free trade. Meanwhile, her co-chair Tino Chrupalla defended Trump’s actions, saying that sometimes restricting free trade was necessary to protect national industry.

This internal split reflects a broader dilemma facing European populist parties: how to reconcile admiration for Trump’s nationalism with the reality that his protectionist policies could hurt their own economies.

European far-right leaders walk a fine line

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of the few European leaders favoured by Trump, described the US tariffs as “a mistaken choice” and offered to host talks between the U.S. and EU to ease tensions. Meanwhile, Matteo Salvini, her coalition partner, initially defended Trump’s tariffs but has since softened his stance under pressure from Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Portugal’s far-right leader André Ventura were more supportive, viewing Trump’s tariffs as a tactical move to extract concessions and arguing that European countries should emulate US protectionism.

In contrast, France’s far-right Rassemblement National, led by Marine Le Pen, distanced itself from Trump’s approach, promoting “intelligent protectionism” without fully endorsing American tariffs.

A long-standing ideological tension within the AfD

The disagreement within the AfD highlights a pre-existing ideological fault line: the clash between a neoliberal, free-trade wing and a more protectionist, nationalist faction. Founded in 2013 by economists opposed to Eurozone bailouts, the AfD has since attracted anti-globalists and ethno-nationalists who favour economic protectionism.

According to political scientist Thomas Greven, while AfD factions differ on trade, they share a belief in national sovereignty and authoritarian governance, which ultimately compels them to rationalize Trump’s actions as legitimate pursuits of national interest.

Despite the tensions, AfD leaders are attempting to downplay internal divisions. Vice-president Peter Boehringer aligned himself with Elon Musk’s pro-free trade views, calling tariffs economically harmful, but insisted that the issue was “not a big deal” within the party.

Trump’s growing influence and risks for Europe’s far right

Trump’s open endorsement of AfD candidates and the party’s record second-place finish in February’s German parliamentary elections have unsettled Germany’s political mainstream.

Some members of the Christian Democrats (CDU) have called for engagement with AfD lawmakers, further blurring political lines and igniting debate over how to handle the party’s rise.

An AfD delegation attended Trump’s second inauguration in January, reinforcing their loyalty. Party figures like Christina Baum and Maximilian Krah have strongly supported Trump's tariff strategy, blaming Germany’s economic troubles on EU policies rather than US actions.

However, experts caution that the AfD risks political fallout if Germany’s economy suffers under the weight of US tariffs and the party continues to back Trump without criticism.

“Far-right parties like the AfD thrive on dissatisfaction,” said Manès Weisskircher of Dresden University of Technology. “If Germany’s economy struggles further, the AfD could gain support by tapping into public anger — but they could also face backlash if voters see them as complicit.”

As Trump's protectionist agenda reshapes global trade, Europe’s populist parties are finding that their support for America First may come at a steep domestic cost.