Der Spiegel editorial urges Europe to form an 'alliance' to stand up to 'America's dangerous president'

German weekly newsmagazine Der Spiegel rallied Europe to form an "alliance" against President Trump in its latest editorial published online Sunday. The magazine, which recently featured on its cover an image of Trump holding a knife in one hand and the decapitated head of Lady Liberty in the other, argued in the editorial that it's "absolutely necessary" for Germany to take the lead on addressing this "threat." "This does not mean escalation or that we must abandon our contacts with America and all the working groups between our governments," the editorial reads. "What is does mean, though, is that Europe must grow stronger and start planning its political and economic defenses."

Der Spiegel admitted the job wouldn't be an easy one for Germany, because "it is from the Americans that we obtained our liberal democracy"; because of Trump's chief strategist, "fire-starter Stephen Bannon"; and because of the unpredictability of how the "brute and choleric man on the other side will react to diplomatic pressure":

Alas, the editorial contended, this is "not a threat that will somehow resolve itself." "It is high time that we stand up for what is important: democracy, freedom, the West, and its alliances."

Read the editorial in full at Der Spiegel.