Will Trump's success spark a harder stance on immigration in Europe?

President-elect Donald Trump's sweeping electoral triumph continues to ripple across the globe, leaving political elites in democratic nations scrambling to decode its broader implications.

While media pundits obsess over Trump’s high-profile appointments, Europe’s political class likely has its sights set not on personalities, but on how this political upheaval reshapes strategies, particularly in the Middle East.

Trump's victory underscores two significant global trends in 2024: Incumbency is no longer an asset but a liability, and voters are weary of hollow rhetoric on migration. They demand action, not platitudes. These lessons resonate far beyond the U.S., as governments wrestle with balancing national identity and international obligations. What unfolds next could redefine alliances and policies for years to come — a stark reminder that politics is never static.

The art of governing and securing reelection has never been more elusive, a reality underscored by the voter unrest that has swept nations since the COVID-19 pandemic. Europe has been no exception, with the UK, Germany, France and Italy grappling with discontent. The British Conservative Party’s historic electoral collapse serves as a stark warning to incumbents everywhere.

Leaders are now poring over the data, searching for answers to this upheaval. Common threads emerge: economic frustrations, the amplifying power of social media, eroded trust in institutions and the relentless pressure of migration. Together, these forces reveal a public disillusioned with empty promises and hungry for tangible change — a challenge that no government can afford to ignore.

For many European politicians, the realization of Donald Trump's decisive victory is unsettling but inescapable: Trump's voters didn’t support him in spite of his anti-migrant stance — they embraced him because of it. This shift carries significant implications for global politics, especially in Europe, where similar sentiments have been simmering for years.

The first and most immediate consequence is a surge in momentum for populist and right-wing parties across Europe. These groups, often framing themselves as outsiders battling an entrenched ruling class, now find their rhetoric legitimized by the U.S. election result. Trump’s triumph gives these movements a veneer of respectability, emboldening their challenges to traditional power structures.

The ripple effects could also seriously affact Europe’s complex relationship with the Middle East. For decades, migration from the Middle East to Europe was a mutually beneficial arrangement — Europe gained labor, and migrants escaped turmoil for better opportunities. But Trump’s victory underscores a growing resistance to this dynamic, hinting at a future where migration policies may harden. This potential realignment leaves Europe at a crossroads, grappling with economic needs and the political realities of an increasingly polarized electorate.

The surge in global civil unrest, epitomized by Britain’s summer riots following the tragic stabbing of three children at a dance class, reveals a troubling pattern of manipulation. In the Southport case, false claims that the attacker was a Muslim immigrant ignited nights of violent Islamophobic riots, orchestrated by far-right and neo-Nazi groups.

Hostels for immigrants and ethnic minorities became targets of mob fury, a chilling reminder of how misinformation fuels division. Order was restored only after massive anti-racism rallies and a decisive government response, yet the underlying tensions remain. For years, right-wing politicians and populist media have fanned anti-immigrant flames, paving the way for harsher policies. These measures, while politically expedient, carry devastating human costs — most notably, the abandonment of thousands fleeing war and persecution to their fates at sea. Such episodes lay bare the dangerous intersection of fear, propaganda and political opportunism.

Europe’s rich diversity, shaped by substantial populations of North African and Middle Eastern origins, has become a lightning rod for both opportunity and division. Xenophobia, often targeting recent migrants and refugees, now extends to non-European communities broadly, fueled in part by far-right rhetoric. The Gaza conflict has deepened these divides, with extremists painting Arabs and Muslims as supporters of terrorism, even as many white Europeans express growing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

France, where over 10 percent of residents were born outside the country and many more claim diverse ethnic roots, offers a microcosm of this complexity. Similar demographic patterns emerge across Europe, where aging populations and shrinking birth rates make immigration a necessity. Yet, as economies rely on foreign labor, they must also contend with the realities of global displacement driven by conflict and instability. This duality — economic reliance and social tension — defines Europe’s ongoing challenge in embracing its multicultural future.

However, over the past decade, Europe’s far-right has skillfully exploited cultural differences, turning them into a political weapon. Populist media outlets have eagerly joined the effort, prioritizing profit over truth by sensationalizing stories and stoking public fear of “the outsiders.” These tactics thrive on prejudice, perpetuating division in societies that are already richly diverse. In reality, cultural diversity is not a threat but a cornerstone of modern Europe’s identity — and a necessity for its economic future.

Cities like London, New York and Paris exemplify how diversity fuels creativity and progress. The influx of new cultural influences — whether in art, music, food or literature — has transformed Europe’s communities, breathing life into spaces that were once homogenous and insular. The challenge now lies in leadership.

Governments must champion diversity as a strength, not a liability, and foster a sense of shared purpose. By embracing managed immigration and celebrating multiculturalism, societies can overcome the corrosive narratives of division and instead focus on the immense richness diversity brings to everyone’s lives. This is not just an economic imperative but a moral one — a chance for Europe to reflect the best of itself in the face of those who would exploit its worst instincts.

Imran Khalid is a physician and has a master’s degree in international relations.

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