The MAGA virus is spreading. While the Make America Great Again movement that was ushered in by Donald Trump with his presidential candidacy in 2016 is powerful in the US, many may not be aware that a parallel ideology has taken hold in Europe. And while “movement” may be too strong a word for now, it is nevertheless certain that the ideology is coalescing in a way that may propel it forward to a full-blown movement.
The origins of the “Make Europe Great Again” movement, often abbreviated as MEGA, is closely tied to broader political trends and sentiments within the European Union– but the predominant one, as is the case in America–is anti-immigration. As an ideology it is not new, but as a “movement” it has found its brand, inspired by Trump.
In Europe, the MEGA slogan was notably adopted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who utilized it during Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2024.
This move was seen as a clear nod to the populist and nationalist sentiments that have been on the rise in various parts of Europe. The crossing of the Atlantic of the MAGA slogan variant is not by chance. Viktor Orbán has close ties to Trump who cultivates the friendship of dictators and wannabe dictators. Witness his bond with Vladimir Putin, his admiration for North Korean Kim Jong Un and the Brazilian ex-president Jair Bolsonaro.
“There’s nobody that’s better, smarter or a better leader than Viktor Orbán. He’s fantastic,” the former president has said. Indeed, the two have continued to meet after Trump’s term as President ended, the last time being in March of 2024 when Trump hosted Orbán at Mar-a-Lago, where reportedly they discussed ways to bring peace to the world.
The MEGA slogan suggests a return to a perceived former glory of Europe, resonating with a segment of the population that feels the continent has lost its way due to various internal and external pressures– but explicitly having to do with the “browning” of the continent as more and more migrants flow in from African and Asian countries.
However, there was strong opposition to the unification of Europe right from the start. Such opposition to the European Union (EU) reflects a range of political ideologies and national contexts. It can come from both within and outside the governing parties and includes various forms of Euroscepticism, which ranges from soft skepticism about certain EU policies to strong anti-Europeanism advocating for disengagement from the EU altogether. No individual country wants to feel it is under the yoke of Brussels, the EU “command center.”
The use of the MEGA slogan in the European context is rife with controversy. It has sparked debates about the implications of nationalism within the EU, a union that was originally formed to ensure peace and cooperation following the devastation of World War II. Critics argue that the adoption of a slogan so closely associated with Trump’s America signals a shift towards more insular and protectionist policies, which could undermine the EU’s foundational principles of unity and solidarity.
The MEGA movement’s history, intertwined with the broader political narrative of Euroscepticism, has been gaining momentum across the continent. There are countries where a significant portion of the population believes they might be better off outside the union. Countries like Poland, Cyprus, Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy have seen rising euroscepticism, often fueled by cultural disagreements and the influence of far-right political parties.
Proponents of MEGA and similar movements call for a reassertion of national identities and priorities within the EU framework. Just as Trump exploits the “America First” slogan and ideology, so do the supporters of MEGA.
Anti-immigration movements are at the heart of MAGA and MEGA. Research indicates that economic anxieties, such as job competition and welfare sustainability, often underpin opposition to immigration. Donald Trump repeatedly stokes fears among nativist Americans about immigrants “coming to take your jobs”. European neo-conservative politicians do the same; both ignore the fact that many jobs are disappearing not because immigrants are stealing them, but because of the relentless march of automation, technology and the ensuing obsolescence.
Economic fear leads to insecurity, which in turn leads to a perceived cultural threat, where immigrants are seen as undermining the established cultural norms and values of host nations. This sentiment has been politically mobilized in various countries, leading to stricter border controls and immigration policies to keep out the contaminating element. The way to Make Europe (or America) Great Again is to go back in history to when the white race enjoyed its hegemony.
Italy’s political shift towards stronger border restrictions reflects a broader European trend of increasing support for far-right parties that advocate for nationalistic and anti-immigration platforms—as Meloni does today in Italy. The complexity of this issue is deepened by the EU’s principle of free movement, which contrasts with the desire of individual member states to regulate their own national borders more tightly. When policies fail, demonization of the immigrants follows. Witness the recent scandal of Republicans propagating the lie that Haitians were eating family pets in Ohio. Similarly, Vox in Spain and Fratelli d’Italia in Italy, have gained traction by portraying immigrants as criminals and the destroyers of autochthonous cultures.
Nevertheless, the MEGA movement is not a monolithic entity but rather a collection of various nationalistic and populist ideas whose platform has crystallized thanks to a common slogan to rally around. The movement’s impact on the future of the European Union remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly represents a significant shift in the political landscape of Europe.
It is possible that the fortunes of the MEGA movement hinge on that of the American MAGA–which in its turn may be impacted by the November election. If Donald Trump should win there is every possibility that the movement will gain even more strength. However, in the event of a loss there is the hope that the grip it holds has American politics may slacken– and were that to happen, then just as the virus crossed the Atlantic and took hold in Europe, so may its enfeeblement and decline.
