The USA is an all-powerfull political entity that can dictate terms on its own. A bit like a monopoly. Europe is a large group of players, condemned to each other, making parallel but not identical choices (e.g are you in/out/half part of the EU).

This changes the way you talk to others, as you'll need to talk to them again, and the power dynamic will have shifted.

So the USA knows it's the best at everything, and will loudly declare it. Most inhabitants only have second hand impressions from other cultures.

European countries each know they individually are the best, but there are tons of neighbours with near status, so it's impolite to say it loud. If differences get big, you can't help but notice next time you enter a neighbour.

The neverending wars, culminating in WWI and WWII, tought everyone what happened when you stop communicating and start ordering. A lot of our politics is trying not to restart that and working together with others who we don't like very much. The EU is but one such project, and if we're honest, the USA pushing for stability was one helper in the past.

One way to look at Trump is: Can we Europeans deal with each others as adults when the big USA stick has disappeared. And can we talk to a partner who seems to have gone mad temporarily but might come back ?

Musk is probably the most obvious candidate for this, but there are several others.

Agreed. My company (which is smallish but quite international) has largely stopped meetups/conferences/etc. in the US because so many people either have to wait ages for a visa, or are from countries now on blacklists. This is not to mention the risk of getting randomly pulled by TSA/ICE/etc. I have to imagine this is much more widespread than just my company as well.

Fun to watch a superpower attempt self-destruction. /s Too bad it'll probably hurt all of us in some form or another.

Yet. And the US gov shows clear intent that it should remain so.

EU stuff must abie by US law when going to the US, vice versa as well.

The bullies are anti-disinformation and anti-hate speech activists?

The USA using its diplomatic power to become a defender of hate-speech and disinformation?

I guess when JD Vance deliberately snubbed the democratically elected government of the country when visiting Germany and instead spent his time with a far-right neo-nazi party, it should have been clear which way the wind was blowing.

The same thing is possible in all EU nations - never give up hope.

The EU bureaucracy stunts growth on the continent. It's undemocratic (only the executive can originate and repeal law - and they are appointed, not elected), protectionist, bullying, expensive and unnecessary.

Successful nations like Switzerland and Norway (#3 and #4 highest GDP per capita in the European continent) show that you don't need to be an EU member state to prosper, maintain peaceful government and strong human rights protections.