Think Trump hates Europe? You ain't seen nothing yet...

European leaders have rushed out messages of support for Volodymyr Zelensky and are bustling to London for today’s emergency talks in a what the heck” moment. Facing them now is how to protect Ukraine. In the long term, it’s the continent itself that’s in danger from Donald Trump’s attack dog.

- SAM KILEY

JD Vance is already on the campaign trail for the 2028 elections. If he won, he could be in office for two terms. That means Europe must not merely brace for, but act on, the threat of 12 years of anti-democratic, mafia-style malice, racketeering and downright treachery from a White House now dominated by extremists of spectacular ignorance.

The US vice-presidency has seldom been put to more devastating effect. But it is Vance who is emerging as the biggest voice in the Oval Office. Vance’s focus has been international affairs but his intended audience is entirely domestic. And he has the backing of the richest man in the world along with other billionaire tech bros.

When he railed against Europe for, in his words, failing to protect free speech, calling EU officials “commissars” and having a crack at the UK, he was playing to a social media gallery. He did the same in his attempt to hijack talks between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, butting in with a repeat of his bizarre claim that the UK was infringing on the free speech rights of Britons and Americans.