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A recent report from the European Policy Centre (EPC) has shown that Donald Trump’s presidency has not significantly altered voting behaviors across Europe. Despite expectations that his 2025 election win would trigger a rightward shift among European voters, the EPC study revealed little to no impact on election outcomes. Right-wing leaders across the continent hoped Trump’s win would boost their movements, but his policies, including tariffs and tense international relations, have failed to bring about major changes in voting patterns.

European Voters Focus on Domestic Issues, Not U.S. Politics

Javier Carbonell, an expert from the EPC, highlighted that European voters prioritize local issues over foreign politics when making election decisions. “European voters decide elections based on internal issues, not American politics,” Carbonell explained. Despite some correlations between Trump’s economic policies and markets or tech regulations, the study found that European voter behavior remained largely unaffected by his actions.

Stable Right-Wing Support Across Europe

The EPC study examined polling data from several European countries and found that support for right-wing parties remained consistent between October 2024 and April 2025. Nations like Austria, Germany, Spain, and Portugal showed steady backing for right-wing groups throughout this period. Similarly, countries with traditionally high right-wing support, such as Poland, Hungary, Italy, and the Czech Republic, saw no major fluctuations in voter sentiment. Even countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, where right-wing parties have historically struggled, did not exhibit significant shifts.

Romania’s Political Exception

Romania was an outlier in the study due to the annulled 2024 presidential election, which resulted in data inconsistencies. As a result, Romania was excluded from the final analysis. EPC experts expressed concern about the reliability of Romania’s electoral data, making it an exception to the overall trends.

Trump’s Declining Popularity in Europe

Despite the stability in voting patterns, Trump’s popularity has sharply declined across Europe. New polls show that only 6-8% of Germans, Spaniards, and French citizens view him as an “ally,” according to surveys by Le Grand Continent and Cluster 17. In countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and France, US reputation indices have dropped by as much as 20-30 percentage points, with many Europeans attributing this decline to Trump’s economic policies, which have negatively impacted voters traditionally sympathetic to conservative ideals.

Limited Success for Trump’s Populist Influence in Europe

Efforts to spread Trump-style populism across Europe have encountered considerable resistance, according to the EPC report. In Spain, the right-wing Vox party held a “Make Europe Great Again” summit, and AfD leader Alice Weidel was interviewed by Elon Musk. However, these attempts faced significant counterforces, and the influence of Trumpism has remained relatively limited across the continent.

Carbonell noted that unlike in Canada, where Trump’s election shifted political momentum, European voters have remained focused on domestic issues. Factors such as low economic growth, rising inequality, and mistrust of political elites have shaped political trends across Europe. Cultural issues, including migration, feminism, and diversity, also play a significant role in driving support for right-wing movements in various countries.

Social and Political Landscapes Shape European Politics

In Spain, regional issues like the Catalonia conflict have influenced voter sentiment, according to EPC researcher Tabea Schaumann. Each European country has its own unique social and political landscape, which explains why Trump’s influence remains marginal. While right-wing movements may continue to gain support based on local dynamics, the study suggests that Trump’s policies and leadership style have not had a lasting effect on European elections.

The European Policy Centre’s analysis underscores the resilience of European political trends, showing that while Trump’s influence may have fueled some temporary interest, it has not fundamentally altered voting behaviors across the continent. As European elections continue, domestic issues will likely remain the key drivers of political outcomes, with voters focusing more on local concerns than on the influence of U.S. politics.