If the first thing Europeans think of when they fill up at the pump is Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran, it's little wonder that previously pro-MAGA populists are quietly distancing themselves from the president of the United States. In fact, Trump actively campaigning for Peter Magyar's rival actually helped Hungary's new conservative prime minister boot out Viktor Orban, his predecessor of 16 years. Magyar is hoping to cash in this week with a deal to unlock more than €10 billion in frozen EU funds.
If Budapest is no longer MAGA's European headquarters, then where do fellow travellers turn in places like France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands?
Do they instead double down on the love for Russia's Vladimir Putin, like Germany's far right? For hardened Eurosceptics, does the master of the Kremlin still seem like an invincible nationalist when he's bogged down in Ukraine?
So do they cosy up to outside superpowers – like Britain's Nigel Farage, who's long been enamoured with Trump – or as shown by recent revelations surrounding the same Reform UK leader, instead find a billionaire with a bee in his bonnet to bankroll them?
Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Guillaume Gougeon, Charles Wente.
