US President Donald Trump has topped Politico’s list of “The Most Influential People in Europe 2026”, according to the publication.
It also notes that this year “no one has had more influence” in or on Europe than the US president. According to Politico, this conclusion violates one of the rules of the list, which traditionally excludes non-Europeans. Still, this time the publication made an exception.
“Trump’s shadow has hung so heavily over European capitals that his decisions, or outbursts of anger, have changed everything from defense budgets to trade and domestic policy,” the material says.
In addition, the list includes:
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen – “The North Star”;
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – “The Reluctant Radical”;
- French far-right leader Marie Le Pen — “Warhorse”;
- Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin — “Provocateur”;
- British right-wing populist leader Nigel Farage — “Shadow Leader”;
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — “Iron Hand”;
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte — “Sweet Talker”;
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Malone — “Role Model”;
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer — “Gray Man”;
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — “Headache”;
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb — “Cuddy”;
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — “Joker in the Deck”;
- European Foreign Minister Kaia Kallas — “Undiplomat”;
- French President Emmanuel Macron — “Wounded Rooster”;
- Polish President Karol Nawrocki — “The Other Pole”;
- Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) Semen Kryvonos.