Ten years ago, President Donald Trump put Europe on notice, telling them the status quo on defense spending was unsustainable — and that America would not continue to shoulder the cost of keeping the European Union safe. Trump was right, but leaders such as former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not want to listen.
Only after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine did they realize their mistake. Fast forward to 2026, and Scholz’s successor, Friedrich Merz, now aspires to command Europe’s largest army.
It’s a significant acknowledgment that shows Trump was right. Now it’s time for a similar reckoning in another area where the United States has long subsidized Europe: biomedical research and development that underpins breakthrough advances for life-saving therapies.