Description
The second Trump administration has been vocalizing its critique of the EU’s policies. The administration’s rhetorical incursions have reached such levels that EU leaders have identified US actions as blatant “interference” in their affairs. The label of foreign interference most often refers to the malign actions of adversaries, and it is less common to associate it with allied partners. This paper links the European narratives of US interference with leadership studies, particularly focusing on the concept of idiosyncrasy credit. According to Hollander, leadership status “represents an accumulation of positively disposed impressions residing in the perceptions of relevant others”. The leader has a certain amount of group-awarded credits that permit idiosyncratic behavior. However, a leader may deviate from expected patterns of behavior in order to help the group advance and progress – that is, leaders tend to be innovative at some points, which may cost excessive credit, especially if the “innovations” are not accepted. By exploring current and historical cases of US “interference” in European affairs, the paper identifies its impact on Washington’s idiosyncrasy credit. The study will help ground notion of “foreign interference” among allied partners, but it will also present broader implications for the study of “trust” in Transatlantic relations.
