Leaders of all three winning parties quickly announced their triumph as significant and even historical. For Marek Carney from Canada, this was confirmed by his argument that the country must mark a much more independent path than its powerful and greedy neighbor.
Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese from Australia recognized Peter Dutton's definite defeat – the extreme right -wing prime minister's candidate – as a confirmation of the Australian way of being: – We are not looking for inspiration abroad. We find it here in our values and our people – he said on an election evening.
And although Trump's name did not appear on voting cards in any of these countries, both Carney and Albanese actually started against the US president – or used it as a contrast. This approach helped them a spectacular phrase in relation to opponentswho supported the American leader, and also oppose the international trend, according to which the incumbent governments are usually punished at the electoral urns.
Surprising return
Just a few months ago, there was no indication of such a turn of cases, but Trump inadvertently changed the dynamics to the detriment of conservatives who copied the magician strategy. He also provided Carney and Albanese with a simple and easy narrative that they could present to their votes – something that the centralists faced in the era of social media, characterized by hyperbola and polarization.
“It was the growing unpopularity of the US President in Australia that really hurt Dutton's image,” Zoya Sheftalovich, who reported the election in Australia for Politico, noted. The same applied to Canadian liberals – a few months ago no one gave them a chance to win.
After a decade in power, the party looked exhausted, and in the face of the crisis related to the cost of living and availability of apartments, social support was rapidly falling. This is the conservative leader Pierre Poilievre – described as “the Canadian version of Donald Trump” – was on the wave. His plan to abolish the controversial tax on carbon dioxide emissions gained support, as did the promise to restore Canada “common sense policy”. His party seemed doomed to victory.
Dave Chan / AFP / AFP
The Prime Minister of Canada and the leader of the Liberal Party Mark Carney speaks to supporters in Ottawa, on April 29, 2025.
However, Trump's considerations about “51.” And strict trade sanctions reversed the situation, and Pilievre's advantage in the polls evaporated. It must be admitted that this was partly due to the increase in support for liberals after the resignation of the increasingly ridiculed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but the perception of Poilievre as “Canadian Trump” became a serious burden for him. His late attempt to transform into a “tough guy”, which was to oppose a neighbor from the south, was not credible.
The popularity of Nigel Farage
In Great Britain, however, Trump's influence is not so obvious. The US president is not very popular in this country. According to a survey conducted before the local elections, only 16 percent. respondents like him.
However, because they were local elections, the campaign focused more on living issues, and immigration turned out to be a key problem. It should also be noted that despite the close relationships with Trump, Farage was ready to face the characters of the magician such as the US vice president Jd Vance and the main adviser of Trump Elon Musk. He criticized the first of them for his alleged insult to the British armed forces, and the second for support for the imprisoned far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.
Continuation of the material under the video
Trump did not prove to be a blessing for right -wing populists outside the US, because his risky customs policy and intimidation put them against a serious dilemma.
Before his second term, right -wing populists and nation conservatives on the continent achieved serious successes in last year's European elections – even if it was not such a huge increase as they proudly predicted. Trump was to give this wave of populism additional strength, helping to introduce a nationalist, global project in the style of a magician, or at least his international allies were counting on it.
However, it is not that simple. Criticating Trump or not supporting him sufficiently, they risk his anger or actions that will harm their country. But without distance, they face the problem with which Poilievre and Dutton came across.
Nationalist tones
Of course, this does not apply to Eastern Europe so much, where Solidarity with Trump is not such a high burden, and in the issue of war in Ukraine you can see the notes of sympathy for Russia.
Daniel Mihalescu / AFP / AFP
President's candidate George Simion during the debate in Bucharest, May 8, 2025.
Sławomir Mentzen, a candidate of the far -right confederation, enjoys great support from the upcoming presidential elections in Poland. The situation is similar in Romania, where the next leader of the country can become George Simion – Trump's ally, who claims that “completely agrees with the ideology of the magician.” In the first round of presidential elections he obtained 41 percent. votes.
Before the headquarters from the left and right breathe a sigh of relief after the victories in Canada and Australia, they should pay attention to one thing: Both Carney and Albanese had to turn right in several issues to ensure victory, and hit strongly nationalist notes.
In short, Trump moved Overton's window. If the centralists want to defeat Magician populists, they will have to take over part of their way of thinking.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
