A bombshell leaked document from the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy has ignited rage in Europe, as it claims the US aims to encourage Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Poland to get out of the European Union. This purported “Make Europe Great Again” (MEGA) plan targets nations seen as resistant to EU policies on migration and sovereignty, potentially reshaping transatlantic relations.
The leak, first reported on December 10, builds on the official NSS released earlier, which already slammed Europe’s direction. As tensions rise, European leaders express fury while the White House flatly denies any alternative document exists.
What the leaked document claims
According to a longer, unpublished version of the National Security Strategy reviewed by US defence outlet Defence One, the Trump administration proposes actively working with four specific EU members Austria, Hungary, Italy, Poland.
The document allegedly states the US should “work more with [these countries]… with the goal of pulling them away from the [European Union].” It stresses supporting “parties, movements, and intellectual and cultural figures who seek sovereignty and preservation/restoration of traditional European ways of life… while remaining pro-American.”
This is in line with criticisms in the official NSS of EU policies leading to “civilisational erasure” through mass migration, censorship, and erosion of national identities. The leaked version frames the strategy as helping Europe “correct its current trajectory” by fostering ties with like-minded, nationalist-leaning governments.
Targeted Countries and Trump’s Ties
The four nations share histories of challenging Brussels on issues like migration and rule of law:
Trump has cultivated personal relationships here, hosting Orbán at the White House and praising Meloni. Analysts note these countries could form a pro-US bloc resistant to mainstream EU integration.
White House denial and official stance
The White House has categorically rejected the leak’s authenticity. Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated, “No alternative, private, or classified version exists. President Trump is transparent and has signed a national security strategy that clearly directs the US government to implement its established principles and priorities.” Officials dismissed reports as “fake news”, insisting the publicly released 33-page NSS is the sole guiding document.
European reactions and implications
EU leaders reacted with outrage, viewing the alleged plan as interference in sovereign affairs. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged respect for European democracy, while others warned of threats to bloc unity amid NATO debates and Russian pressures. “It is not on us, when it comes to elections, to decide who the leader of the country will be, but on the people of this country … That’s the sovereignty of the voters, and this must be protected,” she told Politico.
If implemented, the strategy could fracture the EU economically and geopolitically, though experts doubt coordinated exits due to varying national interests (e.g., Poland’s strong NATO ties vs. Hungary’s Russia links).
