Anyone seen a dealmaker?

Dear readers,

I hope you have survived a bracing week in politics.

At the end of week one of President Donald Trump back in the White House at least one thing is clear: oh yes, he meant it.

While, of course, not everything in the flurry of executive orders and initial statements will have teeth, the direction of travel is pretty clear for those watching from Europe, whether squeezing into the room to watch Trump’s virtual address to Davos or peeking through their fingers at televisions in Brussels, Berlin and beyond.

“This is more than a wake-up call; this is a slap in our face,” was one European venture capitalist’s response to Trump’s $500B AI plan. While EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič told us Europe was listening to the incoming president’s concerns, veteran American diplomat Michael Froman reflected that European policymakers at Davos were in “various stages of denial.”

Europe — POLITICO included — has spent much of the last year wondering who’ll claim the crown as the next Trump whisperer. Given the signals appear to be coming at a fairly high volume, I’ve been wondering this week if Europe might be better off looking for a dealmaker.

Wishing you all a restful weekend,

Kate

** A message from REAL DEAL: The leading EU researchers on citizens' participation and Europe's largest civil society organisations have united to advance citizen participation, issuing key recommendations on how to place people at the heart of the green and just transition. Explore their groundbreaking research and recommendations for decision-makers at www.realdeal.eu.**

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Inside Belarus’ secret program to undermine the EU 

This forensic — and courageous — exposé by Tatsiana Ashurkevich threw fresh light on exactly how Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s cronies recruited and unleashed migrants across the EU border. The weaponization of illegal migration took shape in 2021 after Lukashenko stole a sixth election victory — and continues today as he prepares to steal a seventh. Read the story. 

EU’s Clean Industrial Deal to cover 6 themes from energy prices to trade

The Clean Industrial Deal is the most anticipated legislative initiative this year in Brussels and our scoop gave the town the first look at the major themes that will define the EU’s proposals for months to come. Read the story. 

Desperate for peace, Ukraine embraces Trump

Once horrified at the prospect of Trump returning to the White House, Ukraine’s leaders are now pinning their hopes on the U.S. president forcing Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and ending three years of war. We got the inside view from Ukrainians and their backers at the World Economic Forum in Davos on the positioning to end three years of carnage. Read the story. 

Trump’s $500B AI plan is ‘slap’ in the face for Europe

“This is more than a wake-up call; this is a slap in our face,” Christian Miele, general partner at venture capital firm Headline, told us in response to Trump’s unveiling of half-trillion-dollar project to build the infrastructure needed to cement U.S. AI dominance. Read the story. 

EU trade chief to Trump: Let’s deal

After being stonewalled for weeks, we succeeded in buttonholing Maroš Šefčovič in Davos for his first print interview since becoming the EU’s trade czar — the result was an important message to Donald Trump that Brussels is ready to engage on trade. Read the story. 

Hungary wobbles on sanctions threat after Trump calls out Putin

Gathering chatter from inside the room, POLITICO reporters offered a glimpse into how Donald Trump was infiltrating a contentious debate over whether Hungary would try and block all EU sanctions on Russia from being renewed. Read the story. 

YOUR WEEKEND PLAYLIST

EU Confidential: In Trump’s new era: does Europe still matter?

As Donald Trump settles back into the White House, all eyes—even in snowy Davos—are on Washington. Host Sarah Wheaton reports from the World Economic Forum, joined by Josh Lipsky, Senior Director at the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center, and MEP Eva Maydell, to discuss Europe’s weakening relevance amid tariff threats, tech battles, and shifting power dynamics. Listen to the episode.

Westminster Insider

Westminster Insider is on a break, but our episodes are not time-sensitive: Have a listen to our catalog here or via the links below.

Power Play: Davos 2025: What is Trump’s plan for Ukraine?

This year’s annual jamboree in the Alps is drawing to a close. And the man who’s dominated the week — Donald Trump —spoke to the World Economic Forum. He’s hardly the centrist “Davos Man” but he had a message from Washington for the gathering.

In Power Play’s final edition from the World Economic Forum in Davos, host Anne McElvoy talks to William Browder, financier and activist, who has been a leading campaigner against Vladimir Putin’s regime since his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was arrested and died in custody in Russia 15 years ago. Does he think Trump can strike a deal with Putin to end the war in Ukraine? Listen to the episode.

DECLASSIFIED

Everything you always wanted to know about U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration, but were too afraid to watch. Read this week’s Declassified column.

Caption competition

“That moment when you realize your wife made the smart choice by staying home and you wonder if leaving the party after 10 minutes is rude.”

Can you do better? Email us at [email protected] or get in touch on X @POLITICOEurope.

Last week we gave you this photo:

 Thanks for all the entries. Here’s the best from our postbag — there’s no prize except for the gift of laughter, which I think we can all agree is far more valuable than cash or booze.

“Meloni: What’s that empty space over there? 
Von der Leyen: It used to be called the left.”
by Daniel Makonnen.

**A message from REAL DEAL: Imagine bringing together top EU researchers focused on citizen participation and Europe's largest civil society groups. Well, they’ve done just that to offer solid advice on placing people at the heart of the green and just transition. Through collaborative efforts, these experts have conducted groundbreaking research and tested various citizen deliberation methods, like citizens' assemblies in EU and non-EU countries. They've really dug into what works and what doesn’t in involving citizens in decisions that impact our environment, like ensuring our cities have cleaner air, and issued recommendations for policy-makers and practitioners. These findings are vital for anyone keen on contributing to a democratic and sustainable Europe. Curious to learn more? Visit www.realdeal.eu.**

SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | China Watcher | Berlin Bulletin | Living Cities | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters