The Morning: A strained alliance

Plus, Eric Adams, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Valentine's Day.

View in browser|nytimes.com February 14, 2025 By German Lopez Good morning. We're covering America and Europe's strained relationship — as well as Eric Adams, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Valentine's Day. Eric Lee/The New York Times Trump and Europe The United States and Europe once seemed like inseparable allies. But three events this week show how the alliance is under strain. First, President Trump ordered his administration yesterday to prepare to raise tariffs on Europe (among others), on top of steel and aluminum tariffs announced earlier this week. European leaders said they would retaliate. Second, Vice President JD Vance visited the continent on Tuesday to declare that America — not Europe, not Asia — would dominate the field of artificial intelligence, as my colleague David Sanger wrote. If Europe wants to benefit, Vance added, it will have to deregulate its economy and welcome U.S. tech companies. Finally, Trump snubbed Europe in Russia-Ukraine peace talks. He began negotiating with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. Trump spoke with Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine only after he got off the phone with Putin. "We, as a sovereign country, simply will not be able to accept any agreements without us," Zelensky told reporters yesterday. (Later, Trump clarified that Ukraine would be involved in the negotiations.) Europeans felt the insult. NATO defense ministers met this week to discuss the war in Ukraine, but they weren't consulted or even informed about Trump's gambit. Times reporters in Europe spent much of yesterday listening to the continent's leaders fret about the alliance with America. Europe relies on the United States for its security. Its leaders now wonder: Can they depend on Washington? Today's newsletter explains the new relationship and its consequences. Pete Hegseth Omar Havana/Getty Images Europe's weakness Since World War II, American leaders have tried to prevent a revival of authoritarianism in Europe. The United States spent exorbitant sums to defeat Nazism, rebuild Europe and defend the continent against the Soviet Union. Trump views the relationship differently. He believes that Europe takes advantage of America's military and economic strength. NATO members are supposed to spend at least 2 percent of their economic output on their militaries. Most lifted their military budgets in recent years to meet that goal, in response to the war in Ukraine and pressure from Trump and Joe Biden. Source: NATO | Data excludes Iceland. | By The New York Times But Trump now argues that 2 percent is not enough. He says European governments should spend 5 percent of their economic output on defense — a standard that no NATO member, not even the United States, currently meets. And he'll likely ask Europe to take responsibility for Ukraine once the war with Russia is over, my colleague Steven Erlanger wrote. "President Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into Uncle Sucker," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a news conference yesterday. Trump also senses weakness across the continent. Europe's economy lags behind America's. Three decades ago, the European Union's G.D.P. per capita, a measure of economic output for each person, was 68 percent of the United States'. Today, it is 50 percent. Trump respects countries that show strength — he often praises China, for example — and, in his view, Europe is withering. Source: World Bank | By The New York Times For Europe's leaders, this all seems unfair. They just spent a decade drastically raising their military spending, only for Trump to move the goal posts. And while Europe has economic problems, it remains one of the world's three largest economies. China's strength The biggest winner of a U.S.-Europe rift could be China. Many analysts believe Washington and Beijing are already locked into a new cold war. China has several advantages in this conflict: By some measures, its economy is already bigger than America's. And it has four times the population. The United States can make up those differences by joining with other countries. That's why American diplomats have tried to build stronger ties with Australia, Japan, South Korea and India in recent years. Europe plays a role in countering China, too. Trump, however, does not see the world in such terms. His America First vision demands that the United States dominate the world and benefit from its riches. If that vision were to get other countries to bend the knee to the United States, it could work. But it could also push some U.S. allies closer to China. If they come to believe America is an unreliable trading or military partner, they could go to the next superpower around for deals. In that case, Trump's approach could backfire. For more JD Vance told The Wall Street Journal that Russia could face more sanctions and U.S. military action if it doesn't agree to peace. "We do care about Ukraine having sovereign independence," he said. Zelensky said that Russia's military had struck a building at Chernobyl with a drone. World leaders are gathering in Munich today. THE LATEST NEWS Eric Adams Danielle Sassoon Kent Nishimura for The New York Times The U.S. attorney in Manhattan and several officials in Washington resigned over the Justice Department's order to drop the corruption case against Eric Adams, New York City's mayor. Emil Bove, the Justice Department official who ordered the case to be dropped, guided Adams' defense lawyers as they crafted an argument for dismissing the case. Danielle Sassoon, the Manhattan prosecutor, explained her refusal to drop the Adams case in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi. "I remain baffled by the rushed and superficial process by which this decision was reached," she wrote. More on Trump The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, 52 to 48. Mitch McConnell, who survived polio as a child, was the only Republican to oppose Kennedy. The government continued to lay off people. The human resources division advised agencies to terminate most of the estimated 200,000 workers on probation. A federal judge halted the Trump administration's plan to cut federal funding for hospitals that offer gender-transition treatments for people under 19. Several artists, including Issa Rae and Renée Fleming, have cut ties with the Kennedy Center after Trump replaced the center's board and made himself its chairman. Football kickoffs and low-flow toilets: Trump wants to influence spheres of American life beyond the normal boundaries observed by presidents, Peter Baker writes. The Trump administration's federal funding freeze has created uncertainty among farmers. The National Park Service removed references to transgender people from its Stonewall National Monument website. Immigration A bipartisan coalition in the House passed a bill to toughen penalties for those who try to evade law enforcement near the border. The bill is named for Raul Gonzalez, a U.S. border agent who died in a chase in 2022. The border has been quiet since Trump took office: Apprehensions last week were down 91 percent compared to a year before. Abortion A Texas judge fined a doctor in New York who has been sending abortion pills across the U.S. The case, which is likely to reach the Supreme Court, is a test of the laws that shield abortion providers in several states. Infant mortality increased along with births in most states with abortion bans in the first 18 months after Roe v. Wade was overturned, according to new research. Other Big Stories Photo illustration by Mike McQuade Inside the Murdoch family: Our reporters obtained more than 3,000 pages of documents that reveal betrayals, private messages and a messy court battle over the future of the media empire. Louisiana's health department said it would no longer use media campaigns or health fairs to promote vaccination against preventable illnesses. Apple and Google restored TikTok to their app stores in the U.S. Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, is laying off about 10 percent of its staff, or roughly 1,000 employees. A fire at a luxury hotel under construction in South Korea killed six people and injured 25. All three Fayed brothers, the ex-owners of Harrods, are now accused of sexual assault. Opinions New Yorkers shouldn't have to choose between only progressive mayoral candidates and Eric Adams. The Democratic Party should offer moderate choices, Nicole Gelinas writes. Trump isn't a populist; he's an Ivy League-educated elite waging war on other elites, David Brooks argues. Here's a column by David French on evangelicals and empathy. Subscribe Today The Morning highlights a small portion of the journalism that The New York Times offers. To access all of it, become a subscriber with this introductory offer. MORNING READS Lauren Martin Film lovers: Whether you adore Valentine's Day or loathe it, we have movie recommendations for you. Lost dog? This pet detective uses a thermal drone to help find missing pets. Easing the pain: In hospices, bedside performers offer a new kind of care. Dispatch: An ancient English ritual meant to chase away evil spirits and the winter blues is back. Most clicked yesterday: Elon Musk took his son to the Oval Office, so Jimmy Fallon walked onstage with a child, too. (This is the third day in a row our most popular story has been about the late-night hosts). Lives Lived: Jim Guy Tucker was a former governor of Arkansas who was caught up in the long-running investigation that unsuccessfully targeted his predecessor as governor, Bill Clinton. He was 81. SPORTS Hockey: The United States beat Finland, 6-1, in the second match of the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off. Next up: a game against Canada, the favorites, tomorrow. N.F.L.: The Jets officially informed quarterback Aaron Rodgers that his tenure in New York is over. Also maybe out of a job: Saints QB Derek Carr. N.B.A.: Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu will not hold a rematch of their 3-point contest at the All-Star Game this weekend, the league announced. ARTS AND IDEAS In Manhattan. Nico Schinco for The New York Times "Saturday Night Live" will celebrate its 50th anniversary this weekend. Lorne Michaels, the show's creator, is known for his rituals, including a weekly visit to Lattanzi — an unassuming Italian restaurant in Midtown Manhattan — with the show's latest celebrity host. Read about the dinners. More on culture Koh Samui, Thailand.  Tanveer Badal for The New York Times "The White Lotus" is coming to Thailand. So are the tourists. Lourdes Lopez, the artistic director of the Miami City Ballet, will step down after 13 years. Selena Gomez is releasing an album in collaboration with her fiancé, Benny Blanco, The Cut reports. Late night hosts joked about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Craig Lee for The New York Times Assemble a creamy, classic tiramisù. Avoid Valentine's Day cynicism. Manage kids' screen time with an app. Print in 3-D. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangrams were biathlete, habitable and hittable. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. And we recommend the new Sports Edition of Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow.—German Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018