This page is part of a resource collection on far right extremism. See especially this resource: Far Right Extremism in the U.S.: International Connections.
Image: Trump’s infamous meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, where the American President shocked the world by siding with Putin.
2025
January 20. Andrew Roth: Giorgia Meloni to Javier Milei: far-right leaders flock to Trump inauguration.
January 23. David Gilbert: The Global Far Right Is Celebrating Trump’s New World Order: Far-right lawmakers and extremist influencers the world over are celebrating Trump’s early days in office and advocating for similar efforts in their own countries.
February 14. Andrew Roth: JD Vance breaks taboo by meeting with leader of Germany’s far-right party: US vice-president meets with AfD leader Alice Weidel as Trump administration courts European populist parties.
February 16. Lee Hockstader: What’s behind Vance’s stunning decision to embrace Germany’s AfD?
February 24. The Washington Post: U.S. votes against U.N. resolution condemning Russia for Ukraine war: Washington’s shift on the conflict marks a major break with Europe.
February 28. Peter Baker: Trump Berates Zelensky in Fiery Exchange at the White House: President Trump and Vice President JD Vance castigated President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine for not being grateful enough for U.S. aid.
March 1. Ruth Ben-Ghiat: How the U.S. May Collaborate with Russia: Solving Putin’s problems by ending U.S. restrictions on Russian influence at home and by removing the footprint of U.S. power abroad.
March 18. John Hudson: Trump terminates program tracking mass abductions of Ukrainian children.
March 23. Anthony Faiola: Autocrats roll back rights and rule of law — and cite Trump’s example: Trump’s statements, policies and actions are providing cover for attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, freedom of expression and the rule of law around the world.
March 29. Michael D. Shear: ‘A Great Emboldening’: Trump Inspires Wannabe Authoritarians Everywhere.
April 3. Vitaliy Shevchenko: Russia not on Trump’s tariff list.
April 4. Charisma Madarang: Trump Admin Dismisses Judge’s Order to Bring Back Man Accidentally Sent to El Salvador: “We suggest the judge contact President Bukele,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
April 4. Todd Symons: Trump publicly backs France’s far-right figurehead Le Pen after her conviction.
April 14. Alfie Pannell: The ‘world’s coolest dictator’ heads to the White House.
April 15. Reuters. US removes sanctions from Antal Rogán, aide to Hungary’s Viktor Orbán.
April 16. Ruth Ben-Ghiat: Bukele’s Bodies: Authoritarian Aesthetics and Transnational Repression.
April 16. Brian Mann: ‘Homegrowns are next’: Trump hopes to deport and jail U.S. citizens abroad.
April 16. Eli Stokols & Jake Traylor: Europe watches warily as Meloni meets with Trump.
Trump’s Affinity for Dictators Prior to his Second Administration
Jill Colvin & Nicholas Riccardi: Trump has long praised autocrats and populists. He’s now embracing Argentina’s new president.
Anne Applebaum: Trump Is Putting On a Show in Portland: The president is deploying the kind of performative authoritarianism that Vladimir Putin pioneered.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat:
- Trump’s praise of dictators tells us all we need to know.
- Denial about Donald Trump is deeper than ever: Authoritarians have often told us what they are going to do, but people have rarely believed them.
- Trump, Putin, and the Politics of Domination: How strongmen use personality cults and alternate realities to stay in power.
- Jair Bolsonaro Is Not the New Trump. He’s Worse. Brazil’s history of military rule makes Bolsonaro more dangerous than the average strongman.
CNN:
- Expert explains ‘the danger’ in Trump’s meeting with far-right leader.
- 1990 report: Ivana Trump told her lawyer Donald Trump kept Hitler speeches beside bed.
PBS: Trump said Hitler ‘did some good things’ and wanted generals like the Nazis.
Sara Pequeño: Trump keeps praising dictators like Hitler and Kim Jong Un. Will Republicans ever care?
Politico: Orbán threatens to mess with Ukraine aid to help Trump.
Yasmeen Serhan: Trump Endorses His Legacy: The former president’s backing of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is really just an endorsement of his own tactics.
Timothy Snyder: The Cowardly Face of Authoritarianism.