Europe Cannot Wait to Fight Trump’s Assault on Democracy

The ink isn’t dry yet on the trade agreement between the EU and the US, which was formalized in a written statement on August 21, weeks after the deal was first announced. On August 25, it is already dead. With a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump announced additional tariffs for any country that enforces digital regulation or imposes taxes on US digital companies.

According to official statements, the European Union has maintained a strict stance on the implementation of Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations, despite recent delays in enforcement. Investigations into TikTok’s role in the Romanian elections and Elon Musk’s algorithmic meddling in favor of the far-right in the German elections are ongoing, many months after those elections created a new political reality. However, at least the Von der Leyen Commission has upheld the letter of the law. The DSA allows for transparency regarding moderation and algorithmic content management, users‘ rights in the event of takedown, and access for researchers in the case of the DSA. The DMA is designed to safeguard companies, including numerous US firms, against the exploitation of their dominant market positions by gatekeepers.

Trump’s latest threat conveys three messages that Europe and the world should pay close attention to. First: It is evident that Trump is not a reliable partner when it comes to trade deals. No amount of flattery or appeasement will guarantee a favorable outcome in the long term. Secondly, US-based tech companies are exerting significant pressure on the US government to ensure that their interests are prioritized. Thirdly, Trump’s objective—which is aligned with the interests of certain US technology companies—is to implement regime change in Europe.