In the Prison of Selfishness

The loudmouthed host of the White House imagined he might earn the Nobel Peace Prize through a loosely crafted agreement in Gaza — but things turned out differently. The prize went instead to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, recognized for her tireless efforts to promote a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in her country. Points, then, for rewarding genuine commitment over eccentric ambition.

We now find ourselves in a peculiar situation: the head of the world’s most powerful state seems guided primarily by self-interest. The slogan “Make America Great Again” is repeated to rally his supporters whenever it suits him — yet even America’s allies, especially within NATO, have seen through the façade. That familiar self-centeredness prevails above all else, and a kind of blind indifference shines through every action.

What can the leaders of the Western world do in such a situation? Some heads of state have practically turned into doormats for the White House. It’s at once amusing and embarrassing to watch. Others have attempted to engage President Trump in genuine dialogue — among them the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, who appears to maintain a rather close relationship with him.

Personally, I believe conversation is always worth attempting — but everything has its price. Excessive flattery rarely pays off; President Trump is known to grow weary of anyone too quickly. Elon Musk is a good example — someone who briefly basked in Trump’s attention only to fall out of favor soon after.

A form of Trumpism has also reached Europe, where populist and far-right parties are gaining ground. The glorification of Trump is visible in many of them. Unfortunately, riding on hate speech and chasing popularity seem to have become permanent features of today’s political arena.

Still, I remain hopeful: most populist movements will eventually fade or at least fail to become lasting winners. There is hope — as long as genuine, forward-looking alternatives exist to replace the politics of dead ends.