Donald Trump shares many traits with European populist movements, but differs in his approach to governance, party structure, and cultural messaging.

🧐 Core Similarities: Trump and European Populists

Trait	Donald Trump	European Populists (e.g., Orbán, Meloni, Le Pen)
Nationalism	“America First” doctrine	Emphasis on national sovereignty (e.g., Hungary’s “illiberal democracy”)
Anti-elite rhetoric	Targets media, “deep state,” and establishment	Similar attacks on Brussels, mainstream parties, and global elites
Immigration stance	Border wall, travel bans, strict enforcement	Often more extreme: refugee bans, deportation campaigns
Populist style	Direct, combative, rallies, social media	Similar populist flair, often with local cultural spin
Media distrust	Labels mainstream press “fake news”	Orbán and others restrict or control media outlets
Economic protectionism	Tariffs, reshoring, anti-globalization	Mixed: some embrace EU subsidies, others push national industry

Sources: ¹²³⁴⁵

🔍 Key Differences

Party Structure: Trump operates within the Republican Party, reshaping it from within. European populists often form new parties or coalitions (e.g., Italy’s Brothers of Italy, France’s National Rally).
Institutional Control: Leaders like Orbán and Erdoğan have consolidated power through constitutional changes. Trump faced institutional checks and balances that limited such moves.
Cultural Messaging: European populists often invoke Christian heritage or ethnic identity. Trump’s messaging centers more on patriotism, economic grievance, and anti-woke sentiment.
Foreign Policy: Trump’s isolationism contrasts with some European populists who seek regional influence (e.g., Poland’s assertiveness in NATO).

🧐 Ideological Labels

Authoritarian Populism: Scholars at UC Berkeley label Trump’s style as “authoritarian populism,” similar to Orbán and Meloni⁵.
Illiberal Democracy: European leaders like Viktor Orbán openly promote “illiberal democracy,” a term Trump avoids but echoes in practice.