This paper analyzes Kurdish lobbying strategies in both Washington, D.C., and at the European Union level from 2014-2017. Ethnic lobby groups, such as the Kurds, tend to enjoy two promising access points in both the US and the EU system. While the executive branch in the US tends to be closed to lobbying, Congress conveys a sense of openness to lobbying and activist agendas. Most lobby groups establish connections with particular members of Congress to indirectly shape decision-making at the executive branch. And, Congress manages budgetary issues, which encourages lobby groups to advance their desired agendas directly through the legislative branch. In the US, the president plays a particularly decisive role in foreign policy decision-making, which tends to be made behind closed doors. Foreign and ethnic lobbies face complex obstacles to establishing direct access to a closed executive branch. However, Kurdish representatives may try to appeal directly to President Trump through social media efforts and communications. European national governments are also mostly closed to direct influences by ethnic lobbies on foreign policy issues. In the EU system, however, Parliament similarly demonstrates openness to direct lobbying. In fact, Brussels is a particularly important location for Kurdish lobbies because the city hosts the official seats of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the European Parliament. While the EU system is complex and requires lobby groups to register, it is not difficult to gain access and establish a network of allies. Finally, all lobby groups with an interest in shaping foreign policy agendas engage in lobbying in the public sphere by organizing cultural activities, political conferences, and media events to increase their outreach. Ethnic lobby groups focus on changing public perceptions about an issue of particular significance to them both in the US and in Europe, and tend to rely on social media and networking tools to achieve their aims This paper examines how Kurdish lobby groups address policies advanced by the Trump administration and its European allies by contrasting them to earlier strategies. In addition, the paper evaluates whether progress made by Kurds in Iraq and Syria will be reversed in light of potential US-Turkish agreements under the Trump administration.