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LSE: The Ballpark | Donald Trump and the future of US-EU relations with Professor Kathleen McNamara

Donald Trump’s first presidential term meant that many allies, including in the EU and Europe, were forced to consider the possibility that the United States could no longer be a reliable partner in global affairs.
Donald Trump’s first presidential term meant that many allies, including in the EU and Europe, were forced to consider the possibility that the United States could no longer be a reliable partner in global affairs.
Monday 27 April 2026 | 34 minutes 7 seconds
Listen on SoundCloudDownload File | 46.86MB

Donald Trump’s first presidential term meant that many allies, including in the EU and Europe, were forced to consider the possibility that the United States could no longer be a reliable partner in global affairs. With Trump’s return to the White House last year and the resurgence of his "America First" agenda, Europe has had to return to that way of thinking as it reconsiders its own economic and military security.

And Europe has not been unified in its response to Trump, with divisions over the ongoing war in Ukraine and the US conflict with Iran. Trump’s tariff policies have also further complicated the EU’s relationship with the US and other global trading partners.

To discuss the EU’s turbulent relationship with the United States, in March 2026, the Phelan US Centre spoke to Kathleen McNamara, Professor of Government and Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a Visiting Professor at the Phelan US Centre for March and April 2026.

This episode was produced by Chris Gilson and Avan Fata.

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