'Trump will be gone in three years': Top Democrats try to reassure Europe

February 15, 2026

At the Munich Security Summit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered remarks that partially reassured European allies concerned about fraying relations under the Trump administration, though anxieties remained about America's shifting foreign policy direction. Numerous American Democrats, including governors and senators who may seek the 2028 presidential nomination, attended the conference to emphasize continuity in US-European partnerships and counter the administration's confrontational approach. These officials, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, stressed that Trump's presidency is temporary and urged allies not to overreact to current political rhetoric.

Who is affected

European leaders and allies concerned about US relations
US Democratic politicians including Gavin Newsom, Jeanne Shaheen, Mark Warner, Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ruben Gallego
Republican politicians including Marco Rubio and Thom Tillis
US trading partners facing tariffs
American voters and soldiers
Working class populations in western democracies

What action is being taken

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is delivering remarks at the Munich Security Summit
President Trump is imposing tariffs on US trading partners
Trump is talking about nationalizing elections and instituting voter identification requirements via executive order
Democratic and Republican senators and governors are attending the Munich conference to provide reassurance to European allies
The Department of Justice attempted to indict Senators Kelly and Slotkin

Why it matters

This matters because the Trump administration's "America First" foreign policy represents a significant shift in the international order and US relations with longstanding European allies. The presence of Democratic politicians at Munich demonstrates an unusual situation where opposition party members are attempting to conduct shadow diplomacy and reassure allies about future US reliability. The situation also highlights domestic concerns about democratic institutions, election integrity, and the balance of power, while revealing deep divisions in how Americans view their country's role in the world and the threat of rising authoritarianism globally.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC