| The sweeping victory of Donald Trump is a wake-up call for EU leaders. Will any of them stand out as a respected European figure who can engage with the 47th president of the United States? Some dreamt of it; for others, it was their worst nightmare. As the number of electoral votes trickled down until the wee hours of the morning (6 November), reality started sinking in for European leaders. Their most important ally, its security guarantor and crucial economic partner, the United States of America, will be under Trumpian governance for another four years. Trump's victory, happening on a platform of deregulation, isolationism and authoritarian leadership, is without precedent in modern American history. "Promises made, promises kept," Trump said in his victory speech on Wednesday morning. Should this hold true, the very idea that Europe and the US are tied by a shared identity and common interests may soon belong to the past. Stakes are high: US support for Ukraine is expected to wane under Trump, if not disappear outright, and he also threatened to slam EU goods exported to the US with a blanket 20% tariff. So far, public reactions from EU leaders suggest they are willing and ready to engage with the new administration – rather than outright oppose it. "Ready to work together," France's President Emmanuel Macron said. "I look forward to our cooperation," Poland's Donald Tusk added. Yet, underneath a veneer of unity lies a heavily divided Europe, with once-leading figures facing grave crises at home and populist forces on the rise. | 