Munich Security Conference Report Blames US President Donald Trump for 'Wrecking-Ball Politics'

The organizers of theMunich Security Conference (MSC)did not hesitate to name who they think is behind the "period of wrecking-ball politics." "The most powerful of those who take the axe to existing rules and institutions is US PresidentDonald Trump," they wrote in theMunich Security Report 2026released on Monday. The release came as organizers announced that US Secretary of StateMarco Rubiowill lead "a sizable delegation" of officials to the MSC this weekend. "At the moment, trans-Atlantic relations are, in my view, in a considerable crisis of trust and credibility," conference chairman Wolfgang Ischinger said on Monday. "That is why it is particularly gratifying that the American side is showing such strong interest in Munich," Ischinger said. The MSC will bring together about 65 world leaders, including German ChancellorFriedrich Merz, along with nearly 100 foreign and defense ministers, top military brass and high-level policymakers for three days of discussions. At the 2025 MSC, Vice PresidentJD Vance launched a blistering attack on the US's European allies, accusing EU leaders of curbing free speech, permitting too much migration and ignoring voters' views. The MSC, set to kick off Friday, has in the past acted as an indicator of how good transatlantic relations are, but it is clear from Monday's report that there has been a deterioration since Trump began his second term. Against this backdrop, the 2026 Munich Security Report focuses squarely on what Ischinger called "the elephant in the room," the broader backlash against the principles that have underpinned global governance since 1945. "For generations, US allies were not just able to rely on American power but on a broadly shared understanding of the principles underpinning the international order," Ischinger wrote in his foreword to the report. "Today, this appears far less certain, raising difficult questions about the future shape of transatlantic and international cooperation," he added. While Rubio will lead the Trump administration's delegation, some prominent US critics of the president will also speak at the MSC. California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are all scheduled to participate. The report warns that across Western democracies, public trust in institutions is eroding, and parties promising radical change are gaining ground. "The result is a new climate in which those who employ bulldozers, wrecking balls, and chainsaws are often cautiously admired if not openly celebrated," the report says. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser thatsupports HTML5 video Trump's disruptive approach appeals to supporters who believe breaking established institutions can overcome political gridlock, as seen in moves on NATO spending and an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. But the long-term result may be a shift toward transactional, interest-driven global politics. "Ironically, this would be a world that privileges the rich and powerful, not those who have placed their hopes in wrecking-ball politics," the report stresses. Globally, the US "renunciation of core elements of the existing international order" is straining systems already under pressure, from the WTO to humanitarian aid, the report states. In Europe, Washington's wavering support for Ukraine and shifting security signals are deepening fears as Russia intensifies military and hybrid attacks. Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyis among the most prominent guests expected in Munich. In the Indo-Pacific, partners face growing uncertainty as China pushes for dominance and US commitments appear increasingly unpredictable. Ischinger emphasized that regardless of how one views current US foreign policy, it is already reshaping the world in profound ways, with consequences that are only beginning to unfold. Edited by:Dmytro Hubenko