PETE HEGSETH, HIS MASTER'S NOISE

While Trump had his phone love fest with Putin, his annointed barfly, presently Secretary of Defense, came to Brussels baring no gifts but dire warnings.

Despite staged body language that points to the contrary, there is no love between this US President and Western Europeans, Ukraine included. Hegseth made it perfectly clear that America no longer considers Europe a strategic priority. Neither did he see any chance to return Ukraine to its former borders. Brussels was the final stage for the mort annoncée of former Alliance and other international convenants. The grab and run mantra rules.

The myth of the American umbrella is death. An acceptable outcome out of the Ukranian abyss, with EU involvement, is out of the question. 

Trump's pockets are filled with unpleasant surprises, past and future. Since his Gaza sur mer diplomatic coup, nothing should surprise us anymore. The histrionics of Musk, jester in residence, set the tone. One had better watch the far more subtle moves of Vice-President Vance in Munich now, heir in waiting, who is probably far more lethal.

 It is a fact that the United States has turned a corner, but too few realize that Trump brings with him structural changes that might very well outlive his tenure and turn the world topsy turvy and make the EU a Disney Union for the retired.

America is going through a "bastard" revolution that comes nevertheless close to matching the ire and the shockwaves that came with the French revolution. There is one fundamental difference. The French turmoil ended up being rescued by the bourgeoisie and an intellectual elite. In America today, the rational intellectual elites became the enemy. Trump's court overflows with addicts to bluff and social resentment. This administration is on a social warpath against what is perceived as an elitist, woke-addicted deep state.

Contrary to President Roosevelt's words, fear today has a staying power. Observers, like India or China, will be delighted to flatter the ego of the real estate developer and let his flock build hotels by proxy, following the Trump Godfather model.

There is not much Europe can do but forget its landmark, the leftovers from protocol  and state funerals, which nevertheless still look better than the infamous White House Christmas decoration frenzy. But nowadays the attendees of European grand events are fewer, the aging are too many and the young look at their phones rather than at the passing carriages. It is doubtful that the sparing AI kings around Trump's throne will come with convincing alternatives.

C'est mal parti.