On 20 January 2025, Donald Trump took his oath as the 47th President of the United States of America. The PES respects the decision of the American people and remains committed to building a solid transatlantic relationship. However, we are worried by some of President Trump’s early decisions, which raise concerns and could jeopardise international cooperation.
The PES regrets the President’s order to withdraw the US from the global corporate tax deal, a much-needed mechanism for fairer taxation and tackling the enormous global inequalities. Similarly, withdrawing the US from the World Health Organisation threatens international cooperation in protecting humanity from diseases and pandemics. President Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time is a massive blow to our collective efforts to fight climate change. The US is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally, and this decision will impact international efforts to combat climate change.
Moreover, President Trump reiterated his threats to impose tariffs on EU goods, which risks undermining the crucial trade and investment relationship.
Some of Donald Trump’s first domestic decisions, which have international ramifications or affect certain individual rights, are also concerning. These include executive orders on the national energy emergency and on unleashing America’s affordable and reliable energy and natural resources, which might lead to a giant shift in the world’s energy markets and affect the economies of the EU while having a profound environmental impact on US territory.
As we witness the questioning of hard-won gender equality measures and LGBTI rights brought forward by the Biden Administration, we call on President Trump to be the president of all Americans.
Finally, President Donald Trump promised to tech giants like Meta, X, Google, etc., protection from the US government, directly aiming at the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA was implemented to create a safer digital space, protect users’ fundamental rights and create a level playing field for companies. With the recent concerns about possible interference by social media giants in European national elections to promote far-right rhetoric, we reiterate our call for the EU to use all the legal means available to protect democracy against misinformation and interference.
The PES stands firmly by the values on which our European Union is built. The main purpose of the EU is to promote democracy, cooperation, peace and prosperity on behalf of European citizens, and these values also guide our collaboration with all partners. The US remains a strategic partner for the EU, and we should continue to engage in our transatlantic relations. However, we cannot accept threats against any nation’s sovereignty and internationally recognised borders.
Our duty as European progressives is to fight for the good of people and the planet. We will tirelessly uphold the values and principles on which the European Union was founded.
