Overview of How Trump Brought Us to a “Rupture in the World Order”
This episode of The New Yorker’s Political Scene (host Evan Osnos, with Jane Mayer and Susan Glasser) examines a blistering week in which President Trump’s rhetoric and actions at Davos — including talk of buying Greenland, threats to NATO and tariffs on allies, and convening a dubious “peace board” — pushed long-standing U.S.–European assumptions to a breaking point. The show features an extended interview with Carl Bildt (former Swedish prime minister and foreign minister; co‑chair, European Council on Foreign Relations), who explains how Europeans are reacting and what this may mean for alliances, security, and global order.
Key takeaways
- European leaders were widely shocked and alarmed by Trump’s Davos appearances and surrounding actions; many described his behavior as “unhinged.”
- The episode frames this week as part of a larger, deeper “rupture” in the Western order — not just a temporary leadership aberration.
- European governments are now seriously discussing “de‑risking” their dependence on the U.S. — i.e., preparing for a future in which American leadership is less predictable and less reliable.
- Economic pressure and the threat of real countermeasures (tariffs, investment restrictions) appear to be the levers that most influence Trump’s behavior.
- Russia and some authoritarian states view the U.S. turmoil favorably; Putin’s camp sees ideological and tactical alignment with parts of the Trump orbit.
- Even if Trump departs in three years, many structural changes to U.S. policy and global alignments may persist.
What happened this week — brief timeline
- Trump repeatedly discussed buying Greenland (and mistakenly referred to Iceland), called it “a piece of ice,” and suggested it had strategic value.
- He threatened tariffs and used antagonistic rhetoric toward NATO allies.
- At Davos he delivered a long, rambling speech and later convened a “board of peace” that he suggested would rival international institutions — inviting authoritarian-leaning leaders and excluding some traditional allies.
- Europe publicly recoiled; a European diplomat told Politico, “our American dream is dead.”
- Trump later claimed he reached a “framework” with NATO and temporarily backed down — but uncertainty remains.
Guest interview highlights — Carl Bildt
Background: former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden; co‑chair, European Council on Foreign Relations.
Major points:
- Trump’s Davos speech and the surrounding blitz of statements looked “extraordinary, incoherent, and disturbing” to European audiences; the cumulative effect suggested a departure from a shared perception of reality.
- Europe’s present debate: they do not want a rupture with the United States but must accept an element of de‑risking because U.S. policy is increasingly unpredictable and therefore unreliable.
- NATO: Sweden (and Finland) joined NATO after Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine; Bildt does not foresee abandoning NATO, but expects a NATO with “significantly less” U.S. involvement and calls for adaptation.
- On Trump’s inner circle (e.g., J.D. Vance, Stephen Miller): Bildt sees an authoritarian‑leaning, reactionary concept of society that downplays rule‑of‑law protections and minority rights; he views this as part of a “civilizational battle” shaping the U.S. and Western future.
- Russia benefits from U.S. instability: Moscow is pleased and ideologically resonant with parts of the Trump coalition; that complicates prospects for a fair negotiated peace in Ukraine.
- Greenland: Bildt doubts the U.S. can or will acquire Greenland; continued drama is likely but success is improbable.
Notable Bildt lines:
- He described Trump’s speech as “rambling and incoherent.”
- He recommended Europe undertake “an element of de‑risking” in its U.S. relationship.
- On ideology: “a more sort of authoritarian conservative reaction.”
Other notable voices and lines
- EU diplomat (to Politico): “our American dream is dead.”
- Trump’s Davos rhetoric: repeatedly called NATO allies “daddy” and referred to Greenland as “a piece of ice.”
- Mark Carney (Davos): framed the moment as a “rupture” — “Nostalgia is not a strategy.” His speech resonated as articulating a new European posture (less reliance on past assumptions).
- Observers noted that the only tool that seems to change Trump’s posture is economic pain/threat of economic consequences (“trade bazooka”).
Themes and implications
- Political/strategic rupture: The episode argues Europe now perceives a structural shift — historic assumptions about U.S. leadership and solidarity can no longer be taken for granted.
- De‑risking and regional integration: Europeans are discussing deeper economic and security cooperation among “middle powers” (e.g., the EU, Nordic countries) as a hedge.
- NATO’s future: Membership still valuable, but Europe must adapt for scenarios with decreased U.S. engagement.
- Ideological shift inside the U.S.: The threat is not only Trump as an individual but an ideology in his orbit that may persist beyond his presidency.
- Russia and authoritarian states: They welcome and exploit U.S. disarray; cooperation between Moscow and sympathetic U.S. actors increases geopolitical risk.
- Long-term insecurity: The panel warned the world could be moving toward a longer era of permanent insecurity and less reliable multilateral order.
Notable quotes from the episode
- “Our American dream is dead.” — European diplomat (summary quoted).
- “It was an extraordinary, incoherent, and disturbing experience.” — Carl Bildt on Trump’s Davos week.
- “Nostalgia is not a strategy.” — Mark Carney (Davos speech).
- “We need to have an element of de‑risking in our relationship with the United States.” — Carl Bildt.
Recommended actions/what to watch next (as implied by the discussion)
- Watch whether European governments adopt concrete countermeasures (tariffs, investment restrictions) when provoked, rather than accommodation.
- Monitor efforts by middle powers to deepen economic and security integration (EU coordination, Nordic-Baltic defense ties).
- Track U.S. domestic developments and which political coalition prevails in upcoming elections — the composition of U.S. policy elites matters beyond any single president.
- Follow Russia’s diplomatic messaging and whether negotiations over Ukraine shift in response to U.S. posture.
- Pay attention to whether NATO adapts institutionally to reduced U.S. engagement and how burden-sharing evolves.
Bottom line
This episode frames recent Trump actions at Davos as symptomatic of a deeper break in transatlantic assumptions: Europe is alarmed, rethinking dependence on the United States, and preparing for a world where U.S. leadership is less reliable. The concern is not only for a chaotic presidency but for a longer-term ideological shift with geopolitical consequences that will force alliances and institutions to adapt.