White House foreign policy is tilting against Europe. That is the conclusion of a new analysis of Donald Trump’s social media activity, and it has Whitehall officials scrambling. Sources inside the Foreign Office confirm they are “deeply alarmed” by the pattern emerging from the President’s own words.
The analysis, conducted by the non-partisan Centre for Strategic Communication, examined every foreign policy-related post from Trump’s official accounts between January and November this year. The findings are stark. Out of 847 posts referencing international affairs, 62 per cent contained negative language toward European Union member states or Nato allies. Only 8 per cent were positive.
“The data is clear,” said Dr Eleanor Marsh, lead author of the report. “There is a systematic bias against European partners. It is not random. It is a pattern of rhetoric that undermines trust and fuels division.”
The White House has not commented directly. But the numbers speak for themselves. The posts target Germany, France, and the European Commission most frequently. Terms such as “unfair”, “delinquent”, and “free rider” appear repeatedly in reference to European defence spending.
UK officials are particularly concerned. Britain is caught between Washington and Brussels. One senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “We have a special relationship with the United States, but the tone from the top is corrosive. It makes our job of maintaining unity with Europe much harder.”
The analysis also reveals a sharp contrast in Trump’s treatment of other world leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin is mentioned in positive terms in 74 per cent of posts about him. Chinese President Xi Jinping receives favourable mentions 68 per cent of the time. Compare that with French President Emmanuel Macron: only 12 per cent positive.
“This is not just about trade disputes,” said Marsh. “It is about the fundamental architecture of the transatlantic alliance. The President’s words are not just noise. They shape foreign policy, influence markets, and affect security agreements.”
Already, the impact is being felt. A senior MoD official told this paper that planning for joint exercises with European partners had become “a political minefield”. “We cannot publicly rely on US support in the same way. The President’s tweets have real consequences on the ground.”
European diplomats are equally blunt. One EU ambassador in London described the situation as “a slow-moving crisis”. They added: “We are used to negotiating with the Americans. But this is different. It feels like we are being treated as adversaries, not allies.”
The report comes as Trump faces a re-election campaign that has already seen him double down on anti-EU rhetoric. Last week he called the European Union a “foe” on trade, echoing language usually reserved for hostile states.
For Whitehall, the alarm bells are ringing. A Cabinet Office source said contingency plans were being drawn up for a future where the UK can no longer count on Washington as a reliable partner. “We are the bridge between the US and Europe. But if the bridge is collapsing, we need to know where to stand.”
This is not hyperbole. The evidence is in the President’s own words. Every post, every tweet, is a data point. And the data paints a troubling picture. The special relationship is fraying. And UK officials are watching, uneasily, as the unraveling continues.
