Going right: why the AdG met with Trump's team at the inauguration
The party "Alternative for Germany" (AdG) is expanding contacts with the administration of Donald Trump. This was stated to "Izvestia" by the deputy of the Bundestag from the AdG Eugene Schmidt. According to him, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the American President, representatives of the party held meetings with Republicans. The German delegation was headed by AdG co-chairman Tino Hrupalla. At the same time, neither German Chancellor Olaf Scholz nor representatives of other German parties were invited to the ceremony. Earlier, a member of the Trump team, Ilon Musk, openly supported the AdG before the elections to the Bundestag, which will be held on February 23. Whether the new U.S. administration will affect the party's position and why the Republicans - in the material "Izvestia".
AdG ties with the new Trump administration
The German opposition party "Alternative for Germany" expands contacts with the team of the new US President Donald Trump. This was reported to "Izvestia" by the Deputy of the Bundestag from the party Eugene Schmidt.
- We are the only of the leading German politicians who were at the inauguration. There were also a number of meetings behind the scenes. It is with the Republican camp that ties are being forged, because everyone else at one time very much poured mud on Trump during the campaign. We are the only ones who were, so to speak, on Trump's side or took a neutral position. And all this is now bearing fruit," the German MP told Izvestia.
The party, by the way, notes that contacts with the Republicans were in general and before, but now they are gaining momentum.
- At the same time, in fact, the AdG would like to have good relations with all countries, both with the United States and Russia. Our party does not exclude anyone," Stefan Kotre, a Bundestag deputy from the AdG party, said in a conversation with Izvestia. - We have the support of Ilon Musk. Plus Donald Trump's policy, which has a lot in common with the AdG's policy.
It's worth noting that Ilon Musk conducted an hour-and-a-half online interview with AdG candidate for chancellor Alice Weidel on January 9, in which he noted that only her party "can save Germany." Thus, the head of the Trump administration's new efficiency department, Ilon Musk, openly endorsed the AdG ahead of the Bundestag elections. He even got into a kind of online altercation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The German leader complained against Musk for his support of the opposition and said that "freedom of speech in Germany is not meant for extreme right-wing views." In response, Musk called him an oaf and called him names by misrepresenting his last name. In addition to Scholz, he also criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This caused displeasure in the European Commission, whose representatives accused him of interfering in the elections of European countries.
In addition, many paid attention to the ambiguous gesture of the billionaire at the parade in honor of Trump's inauguration, which many considered a Nazi greeting. Either way, Musk, as one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time and now also a senior official in Trump's office, could indeed have a significant impact on public opinion and increase interest in the party at least because of his media exposure.
The political scene in Germany has undergone significant changes in recent years, and one of the most prominent forces in this transformation has been the AdG party. Since its founding in 2013, it has attracted attention not only on the domestic but also on the international scene. Recent meetings between AdG representatives and Republicans emphasize the AdG's desire to forge closer ties with right-wing political forces in the United States, which, given Trump's influence, could be seen as an attempt to strengthen its position within Germany.
In the upcoming Bundestag elections, the AdG's chances look quite promising. The party has already established itself as an influential force in German politics, especially among voters dissatisfied with the actions and agenda of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). According to opinion polls, the AdG is currently willing to be supported by 21% of voters - the second highest in the country. CDU has the highest ratings - 30%, and it is its leader Friedrich Merz is prophesied to be the future chancellor of Germany. Olaf Scholz's party is third with 14%. Both one and the other deny the possibility of coalition talks with the AdG on the results of the elections. Last November, a motion to ban the AdG, signed by 112 deputies and initiated by CDU members, was submitted to the Bundestag. But the likelihood of such a decision is virtually nil, as it requires lengthy procedural procedures, said AdG deputy Eugene Schmidt. Only the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany can make the final decision to ban a political party.
The AdG is now in a state of political boycott by other political forces in Germany and is practically unable to influence political processes in the country, says Artem Sokolov, a researcher at the Institute of International Relations of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
- Open support from the new American administration creates a new situation for German politics, when the AdG has an influential ally and intercessor in the United States. This leaves the forces of the political mainstream in a state of certain bewilderment. Because it was clear how to react to the AdG's support from ideologically close political forces, for example, in Austria or Hungary, it was clear how to react to the party's interaction with Russian representatives. Now the situation is different," Artem Sokolov told Izvestia.
It is worth noting that the overt support from the closest transatlantic ally comes not from fringe groups, but from the current U.S. administration. Given that the AdG is not succeeding in breaking the boycott from within, with such weighty support it can be done from the outside. Whether the AdG, with the help of its overseas partners, will be able to change the attitude toward its party among other German political forces is an open question. But this situation has not yet had any significant impact on the party's ratings, but it is unclear how the dynamics will develop further, closer to the elections, summarized Artem Sokolov.
Why the U.S. supports the AdG
One of the main reasons for the Trump administration's support of the AdG is ideological coincidence. Both parties share similar views on a number of key issues, such as immigration policy, national sovereignty and criticism of globalization. Trump, as a proponent of the "America First" principle, has emphasized the importance of protecting the national interest, which resonates with the AdG, which opposes the mainstream liberal agenda and advocates for the preservation of Germany's cultural identity. Notably, the AdG and the new White House chief of staff have often been accused of radical far-right views. But this can generally be considered a classic trope of many parties that call themselves liberal.
Support for the AdG may also be part of a broader strategy to counter traditional political elites, both in Germany and in Europe as a whole. Trump and his supporters often criticize the existing order and advocate radical change, including in the EU itself. From a geopolitical perspective, support for the AdG may be part of a plan to weaken the influence of the European Union and strengthen the U.S. position in Europe. Trump has repeatedly spoken out against EU policies, especially on migration and trade, and on the eve of the election promised to impose significant duties on European goods due to disproportionate benefits. This is why Trump's election victory, as the media wrote, "took Europe by surprise." Supporting populist parties like the AdG could help create a more fragmented political picture in Europe, which in turn could weaken the unity of the European Union.
These gestures of attention to the AdG primarily serve as an attempt to once again jab European elites and show the old-new rather utilitarian attitude of the Trump administration toward European allies, Artem Sokolov believes.
- Since, according to Trump's idea, Europeans and, first of all, Berlin are not sufficiently invested in transatlantic relations, both in terms of security and economy, the open support of opposition forces is a certain signal about the change of priorities in inter-allied relations," the expert said.
The success of parties such as the AdG in the elections may lead to a change in the political landscape and open up new opportunities for cooperation with right-wing forces. Even during the election campaign, we saw Trump's rapprochement with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fitzo also spoke positively about the 47th president of the United States. Both Orban and Fitzo are considered to be right-wingers whose vision does not coincide with the EU's general line. If the AdG succeeds, the new U.S. administration could gain another ideological ally that would meet Washington's interests.
