Fact Check Analysis: Europe’s US-backed conservatives hope this is their moment to go mainstream




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Introduction

The article examines a growing alliance between European nationalist parties and America’s conservative MAGA movement, spotlighting CPAC events in Hungary and Poland. It has raised questions about whether this U.S. support—particularly from Trump-linked operatives and officials—has crossed over from rhetoric to tangible, material influence on European elections, especially in the case of Polish candidate Karol Nawrocki. A user asked us to verify if CPAC and MAGA-aligned figures are actually giving strategic or material support to candidates like Nawrocki or if the influence is mostly symbolic.

Historical Context

CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) has long served as a major event for American conservatives, gaining greater prominence during and after Donald Trump’s presidency. In recent years, its organizers have held events in Europe, tapping into a growing populist right across the continent. The convergence of MAGA ideals with European nationalism has been viewed by critics as an attempt to internationalize Trumpism. Yet, while alliances are forming, the full extent of practical support remains a subject of scrutiny.
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Fact-Check of Specific Claims

Claim #1: “CPAC-backed nationalist Karol Nawrocki is running for Poland’s presidency.”

This claim is inaccurate. Karol Nawrocki is not running for president of Poland. He is a Polish historian and head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), not a candidate in the 2025 Polish presidential election. As of June 2025, there is no evidence that Nawrocki is registered as a candidate or that the election features him in any national role. The article conflates CPAC’s ideological backing of nationalist positions with actual electoral candidacies, leading to a misleading statement.
Source: Polish National Electoral Commission; IPN official website; Associated Press reporting on 2025 Polish elections.

Claim #2: “U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attended the Polish CPAC and endorsed a specific candidate.”

This is a partially true claim. Kristi Noem, a former governor of South Dakota and a close Trump ally, does not currently serve as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security—a cabinet-level role in the federal government. As of June 2025, there is no credible reporting confirming Noem holds this position. However, she did attend CPAC Poland in May 2025 and made pro-nationalist statements supporting alignment with Trump’s foreign policy, according to coverage from Polish outlets like TVP Info and English-language reporting. Still, to imply her messages carry official U.S. government weight is misleading.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security official directory; Politico Europe; TVP Info.
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Claim #3: “Former Trump campaign strategist Chris LaCivita helped run the campaign for Sali Berisha in Albania.”

This claim is supported by available evidence. Chris LaCivita, who helped run Trump’s 2024 campaign, has been involved in political consulting as part of WPA Intelligence and other firms. Albanian news outlets such as Tirana Times reported that Berisha’s Democratic Party made use of foreign conservative consultants, including those with links to previous Trump campaigns. LaCivita’s name has been cited in insider reports shared by Balkan Insight and corroborated by opposition leaks. While the full extent of his involvement is not publicly disclosed, the claim that he was part of Berisha’s campaign operation is credible.
Source: Tirana Times; Balkan Insight; Politico; WPA Intelligence.

Claim #4: “This constitutes a coordinated international movement backed by material support from MAGA-aligned figures.”

There is insufficient evidence to substantiate that what is described as an “international nationalist movement” is coordinated in the operational or infrastructural sense. While symbolic support, shared ideology, and some personnel overlap exist, no substantial evidence shows consistent strategic, financial, or electoral operations managed from the U.S. for European candidates. Speakers and figures affiliated with Trump have participated in CPAC events abroad, but these appearances are mostly rhetorical or ideological in nature. Coordination is implied in the article but lacks verified logistical proof.
Source: European Council on Foreign Relations; UCLA Center for Political Networks; Brookings Institution.
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Conclusion

Our analysis finds that the article contains several misleading or imprecise representations. The claim about Karol Nawrocki being a CPAC-backed presidential candidate in Poland is factually false. The article exaggerates the official capacity of Kristi Noem and overstates the tangible influence of MAGA figures in Eastern European elections. However, the claim that former Trump strategist Chris LaCivita aided Sali Berisha’s campaign is supported by evidence. Overall, the article has notable issues with accuracy and contains examples of symbolic alliances being presented as practical electoral coordination, contributing to a distorted understanding of American conservative influence in Europe.

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Link to Original Article

View the original article on BBC


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