The Guardian view on Ursula von der Leyen’s first 100 days: the steepest of learning curves

‘As Ms von der Leyen put it: “Our European values, democracy, freedom, the rule of law are under threat.”’ Photograph: Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

In a press conference on Sunday to mark 100 days since the beginning of her second term as European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen erred on the side of understatement when asked whether she still considered the US to be an ally. The answer was yes, she replied, before adding that “we have our discussion points without question”.

Hard to argue with that. Regarding the war in Ukraine, international trade and existential questions concerning the future of European defence and security, the geopolitical landscape bears no resemblance to the one that Ms von der Leyen looked out upon on 1 December. As Mr Trump and his “America first” outriders have confounded cherished assumptions about the transatlantic alliance, they have also sought to encourage authoritarian nationalism in EU member states.