In Italian, there is a saying: “The elephant in the china shop” — something obvious and problematic that everyone can see but no one addresses for fear of causing damage.
The phrase surfaced repeatedly on April 18 in Milan’s Piazza del Duomo during a demonstration organised by the pan-European right-wing group Patriots for Europe.
It referred to the recent tensions between the administration of US President Donald Trump and European right-wing parties — an issue widely discussed behind the scenes, but largely avoided on stage.
Only Matteo Salvini, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the League, briefly touched on it, insisting that transatlantic relations are not in question.
Called “Without fear. In Europe, masters in our own home”, the event itself was organised by Salvini, who brought together representatives from across Europe belonging to the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament.
Among those addressing the crowd were Jordan Bardella, President of France’s Rassemblement National (RN) party, Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders of the Netherlands, the head of Voice of Reason party Afroditi Latinopoulou of Greece, leader of Vlaams Belang Tom Van Grieken of Belgium, and President of Spain’s Vox party Santiago Abascal (via video link), alongside other party chiefs from across the continent.
The rally focused on themes typical of the sovereigntist Right: Opposition to mass immigration, criticism of Islamic extremism and attacks on the European Commission and its President Ursula von der Leyen.
The demonstration began with a march through the streets of Milan before concluding in Piazza del Duomo, beneath the city’s cathedral, where speakers addressed a crowd estimated between 2,500 and 4,500 people.
The event took place at a politically sensitive moment, which not only several participating politicians but also ordinary attendees described in interviews with Brussels Signal yesterday. as “problematic,” “difficult,” and “delicate” for Europe’s right-wing movements.
Two main concerns dominated discussions among attendees: The recent electoral setback of Viktor Orbán, former Hungary prime minister and a key figure within the Patriots for Europe alliance and recent actions by the US administration seen by many as at odds with European interests.
In particular, the latest escalation involving Iran — and its economic repercussions for Europe — was frequently cited as already affecting citizens’ daily lives, especially through rising fuel prices.
Paolo Borchia, the League’s delegation leader in the European Parliament, told Brussels Signal that there is a “cry of distress” coming from local communities due to rising prices and what he described as the harmful effects of the Green Deal, the EU Stability Pact and the price increases linked to the US-led escalation involving Iran. He argued the Right must address these issues in response to its electorate.
Stressing the hope for positive relations with the US, he said Italy and Europe need predictability in transatlantic co-operation, a predictability that is not a defining feature of Trump.
Among demonstrators interviewed, opinions on recent US actions varied.
Some strongly defended Trump, saying he should be supported “without ifs or buts.” The majority, though, expressed negative views on his recent conduct, reflecting a widespread belief that US decisions do not always align with the interests of the Italian and European Right.
Most respondents supported the critical positions adopted by Salvini and by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in recent days. These criticisms, though, were not voiced from the stage during the rally.
The rally itself did not produce any clear signs of strategic innovation on how to address tensions with the US or Orbán’s electoral setback on being ousted as prime minister.
Instead, speakers largely called for unity and cohesion in what all repeatedly described as a “delicate,” “difficult” and “problematic” moment.
Whether the Patriots for Europe group will adjust its strategy in response to transatlantic tensions and Orbán’s defeat remains unclear. For now, the prevailing message is one of unity, as the movement seeks to navigate an increasingly complex political phase.
