HOW TO CHALLENGE DONALD TRUMP. Democratic Strategies and the Global Dimension of U.S. Politics

In a moment of profound political polarisation in the United States, questions about how to effectively challenge Donald Trump, and Trumpism more broadly, remain central to the strategic debates within the Democratic Party. This panel brings together leading voices from journalism and politics to examine the range of approaches currently under discussion, from electoral strategy and coalition-building to messaging and institutional reform. Beyond domestic political dynamics, the discussion also sheds light on the often underexamined role of foreign policy in shaping electoral narratives and voter perceptions. In an increasingly interconnected world, U.S. domestic politics cannot be disentangled from global developments, as international conflicts, economic interdependence, and shifting geopolitical alignments feed directly into national debates. At the same time, perceptions of the United States abroad and thus the expectations of allies and rivals may subtly influence how political strategies are formulated at home. This brings up questions of how international crises, alliances, and global leadership factor into the Democratic Party's positioning and whether foreign policy can serve as a point of confronting Trump

Bringing together transatlantic perspectives, this panel offers a timely and nuanced analysis of the political, institutional, and global stakes surrounding the future of American democracy.

Eric Frey, Senior Editor Der Standard
Rieke Havartz, international correspondent The time
Beto O'Rourke, American Democratic politician from Texas. He served as a U.S. Representative (2013-2019).
Ishaan Tharoor, global affairs journalist, media leader at the World Economic Forum, teaches an occasional seminar at Georgetown University on global politics, and appears as a commentator on global affairs regularly on radio and television

Moderation
Raimund Löw, Journalist, author, and historian, head of Falter Radio.