Lawmakers FLEE to Munich—DHS Funding DIES

Democratic lawmakers are jetting off to Munich to undermine President Trump on foreign soil while critical domestic issues—including a Department of Homeland Security funding crisis—remain unresolved at home.

Story Snapshot

At least 50 lawmakers are attending the Munich Security Conference to reassure European allies about U.S. commitment despite Trump’s policies
The trip occurs during a Department of Homeland Security funding lapse, prompting criticism from Republican leadership about lawmakers abandoning domestic priorities
Democrats frame the mission as necessary alliance maintenance, while Republicans are divided between supporting reassurance efforts and prioritizing America First policies
The Munich Security Report 2026 labels Trump a “demolition man” practicing “wrecking-ball politics,” revealing how international elites view America’s elected leadership

Democrats Prioritize Foreign Approval Over Domestic Duties

Democratic lawmakers are attending the Munich Security Conference scheduled for February 14-16, 2026, positioning themselves as defenders of traditional alliances while President Trump reshapes American foreign policy. At least 50 lawmakers from both parties are expected to attend, though the trip coincides with an unresolved Department of Homeland Security funding crisis. House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole expressed concern about lawmakers leaving during critical budget negotiations, highlighting the questionable timing of this overseas excursion when Americans need their representatives focused on securing the homeland.

Reassurance Mission or Political Theater

Representative Gregory Meeks, top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated the delegation aims to communicate that “the United States is still an ally” and working in a “multilateral way.” Senator Chris Coons organized a bipartisan delegation specifically to address tensions over Greenland, with Republican Senators Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski participating. However, this framing reveals a troubling assumption: that elected congressional Democrats should reassure foreign governments about America’s commitments independent of the executive branch. This approach fundamentally misunderstands constitutional separation of powers, where the President directs foreign policy.

European Elites Attack Trump’s America First Agenda

The Munich Security Report 2026 characterizes the current era as “wrecking-ball politics” and explicitly labels President Trump a leading “demolition man.” Munich Security Conference Chair Wolfgang Ischinger declared transatlantic ties “in a considerable crisis of trust and credibility.” These characterizations expose how international establishments view Trump’s efforts to prioritize American interests over globalist consensus. Former Ambassador Daniel Fried acknowledged Trump’s approach is “unprecedented,” particularly regarding Greenland and NATO burden-sharing demands. What elites call unprecedented disruption, Trump supporters recognize as overdue accountability for allies who have exploited American military protection while pursuing policies contrary to U.S. interests.

Governor Newsom’s Unauthorized Foreign Diplomacy

California Governor Gavin Newsom attended the conference and signed a clean energy agreement with the United Kingdom, which President Trump correctly criticized as “inappropriate” on February 16, 2026. Newsom’s independent foreign policy ventures demonstrate how opposition politicians seek to conduct shadow diplomacy undermining the administration’s agenda. State governors have no constitutional authority to negotiate international agreements, yet Newsom brazenly positions himself as an alternative American voice on climate policy. This overreach exemplifies the resistance movement’s willingness to subvert constitutional governance to advance progressive priorities that voters rejected when they elected Trump.

Divided Republican Response Reveals Establishment Weakness

Senate Majority Leader John Thune offered tepid guidance that “people have to make their own decisions about” attending Munich, while some Republican senators joined the reassurance efforts. This divided response illustrates ongoing tensions between establishment Republicans comfortable with traditional alliance structures and Trump-aligned conservatives demanding that allies contribute fairly to collective defense. Republican participation in the Denmark trip and Munich conference shows some lawmakers remain captured by conventional foreign policy thinking rather than supporting the President’s mandate to renegotiate terms that disadvantage American taxpayers. Voters elected Trump precisely to challenge these entrenched relationships, not to maintain business as usual with European governments pursuing open borders and socialist economic policies.