Europe’s Secret Midnight Summit: Leaders Plot a Trump-Resistant Future

European leaders held a secret, midnight summit in Brussels with nearly 30 countries to plan a future less dependent on the United States amid Trump 2.0 turmoil; the mood was raw enough to be described as “group therapy,” with Macron warning there’s no return to the old order, and others like De Wever warning Europe could become Washington’s vassal. Intelligence agencies reportedly warned of Trump’s volatility (MI6 likening his White House to The Crucible meets Wolf Hall), while Meloni has broken with Trump and Carney had urged Europe to diversify its security and economic ties. A follow-up gathering occurred in March as energy prices and foreign policy tensions persisted, and Washington touted NATO cooperation ahead of a Turkey summit.