Public debate by the Strategeo Institute and Anglo-American University, Prague, 4 November 2025
An intense public debate titled “Trump Year One: What It Means for Democracy & Europe” took place in Prague, organized by the nonpartisan think tank Strategeo Institute in cooperation with Anglo-American University (AAU). Moderated by Jan Macháček, President of Strategeo, the discussion brought together Ondřej Jonáš (investment banker), Petr Kolář (advisor to the President of the Czech Republic and former Ambassador to the United States), Ondřej Hejma (translator, publicist, and musician), and Martin Weiss (journalist and translator), who offered sharply different perspectives on the domestic and foreign-policy impacts of Donald Trump’s presidency.
The conversation unfolded in two main parts, examining Trump’s domestic economic and social agenda and his foreign, defense, and security policy.
Economist Ondřej Jonáš highlighted the exceptional strength of the U.S. economy, noting that stock markets have reached historic highs, the deficit with China has fallen by roughly 25–30 percent, and the weaker dollar supports exports. At the same time, several of Trump’s key measures face scrutiny before the U.S. Supreme Court - from tariffs and immigration rules to the possible re-examination of birthright citizenship guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.
Former ambassador Petr Kolář described Trump’s rise as a symptom of deep social division in the United States. Many Americans, he argued, perceive parts of the liberal agenda as being imposed “from above.” Kolář recalled his shock when Republican friends in Washington whispered their political opinions out of fear of being overheard. He made no secret of his personal aversion to Trump, stemming particularly from the president’s disparaging remarks about Senator John McCain, whom Kolář regards as a hero.
Offering a contrasting tone, Ondřej Hejma expressed a more sympathetic view of Trump, recalling his acquaintance with Ivana Trump before her marriage and suggesting that such a strong woman “would not have married a bad man.” Martin Weiss complemented the exchange with an analytical note, pointing out long-standing constitutional tensions in the United States between expansive and restrictive interpretations of immigration rights.
In the second half of the debate, Jan Macháček steered the discussion toward Trump’s foreign policy, posing three questions: How deliberate is his unpredictability? Why has he succeeded in the Middle East but not in Ukraine? And how much of his policy comes from personal intuition rather than strategy?
Ondřej Hejma argued that Trump’s unpredictability is overstated, since he largely fulfills his campaign promises. Martin Weiss countered with examples of harmful improvisation, including rhetorical threats of intervention in Venezuela or Nigeria. Petr Kolář warned that the United States, as a global leader, should not govern through chaos but by example. He nonetheless acknowledged one positive outcome - Trump’s blunt approach “woke up” Europe, pushing governments to increase defense spending. Still, Kolář suggested that the recent 5 % spending pledges stem “less from respect than from fear.” Weiss added that Trump’s transactional mindset helps him deal successfully with Middle Eastern monarchies but leaves him ineffective with ideological powers such as Russia and China. Ondřej Jonáš observed that Trump “really hates the war in Ukraine” and prefers to let it drag on, while Kolář criticized the president’s understanding of Putin as naive and awkward.
The session concluded with a lively Q&A featuring AAU students and guests from the public. One question addressed whether the political establishment’s failures paved Trump’s path to power. Kolář agreed, citing a chain of crises - from 9/11 and the 2008 financial crash to COVID-19 - and Europe’s dependence on Russian energy as factors that opened the door to radical figures.
Another question focused on the future of the MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) movement. Weiss predicted that MAGA is “here to stay,” naming JD Vance as a likely successor, while Jonáš mentioned Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk as other possible figures.
The final exchange, led by Daisy Sindelar (former Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty), explored the role of soft power under Trump. Kolář argued that the administration views soft power as wasted money, though it is in fact one of the most effective tools against authoritarian influence. Jonáš confirmed that public broadcasting has lost support in the U.S. and urged the EU to fill the gap, while Weiss concluded that America’s real soft power today emanates from Silicon Valley and technological innovation rather than traditional diplomacy.
The event drew a diverse audience of diplomats, students, and journalists, reflecting a rare blend of perspectives and generations. Its open and often provocative exchanges reaffirmed Strategeo’s mission - to provide a neutral space where differing opinions can confront each other openly, critically, and with respect.
The public debate was held with the support of
