The message from Rogers appeared to be another sign of the Trump administration trying to send conciliatory signals to Europe, despite the recently published National Security Strategy calling on the U.S. to “cultivate resistance” to the political status quo on the continent. And it came just hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for a “strong and revitalized Europe” on the Munich stage.
Rogers has courted controversy by taking to her official social media accounts to launch public attacks, from characterizing immigrants to Germany as “imported barbarian rapist hordes” to connecting Sweden’s migration policy to instances of sexual violence, and for her sharp rebukes of social media regulations in the EU and the United Kingdom.
After U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s searing Munich speech last year criticizing European democracies for ostensibly pushing back on free speech rights in efforts to crack down on election interference, Rogers indicated that the U.S. is still making a list of which allies have been naughty and nice, but used a gentler tone.
“In terms of who’s a good ally, we certainly have views on that, but whoever’s elected, we will work with them,” she said.
At Munich, she has faced questions over whether rising far-right European parties, such as Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) and France’s National Rally, might share U.S. priorities when it comes to beefing up defense.
Many right-wing parties have qualms over higher military spending and many also have warm relations with the Kremlin.