Kupchan: America First represents return of US isolationism; warns of MAGA influence in Europe (decode39.com)

• Kupchan frames Trump's policy as a historical pendulum swing, but with an unprecedented internal democratic threat.
• He warns that MAGA-style movements may gain ground in Europe, weakening transatlantic unity.
• A return to traditional US alliance policy is possible but uncertain, contingent on greater European burden-sharing.

"Charles Kupchan, a leading US foreign policy scholar and former White House official, argues that Donald Trump's 'America First' marks another swing in the long pendulum of US isolationism, but warns that today's challenge extends beyond foreign affairs to the resilience of liberal democracy itself. He fears that the forces behind MAGA could soon strengthen similar movements across Europe, including Reform UK, Rassemblement National, and AfD. Kupchan suggests a post-Trump correction is possible if Europe shoulders more defense burdens, but the deeper threat is to democratic cohesion on both sides of the Atlantic."