In a move that has reverberated through German political circles, US Vice President JD Vance met with Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany's controversial far-right party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), in Munich. This meeting, deemed taboo-breaking in German politics, has drawn sharp criticism and stirred debate among European leaders. The AfD, known for its anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim stance, has been classified by German courts as a suspected threat to democracy, allowing domestic intelligence to monitor the party.
The AfD was expelled from a pan-European parliamentary group of populist far-right parties in May, illustrating its contentious position in European politics. Despite the party's divisive reputation, Vance convened with Weidel to discuss topics such as the war in Ukraine, German domestic politics, and the "firewall against the right"—a policy preventing ultra-nationalist parties from joining ruling coalitions in Germany. This meeting aligns with the Trump administration's broader strategy of courting and promoting far-right populist parties across Europe.
JD Vance's comments at the Munich Security Conference further ignited controversy. He accused European leaders of "hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words like 'misinformation' and 'disinformation,'" a stance that was swiftly rejected by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Scholz underscored Germany's historical commitment to blocking extreme right-wing parties from power, stating:
“From the experience of National Socialism, the democratic parties in Germany have a common consensus: this is the firewall against extreme right-wing parties.”
The reaction from European leaders was swift. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, emphasized the importance of democratic mandates in achieving meaningful progress, asserting:
“Listening to that speech, they try to pick a fight with us and we don’t want to pick a fight with our friends.”
Vance's meeting with Weidel also comes amidst controversial remarks by Elon Musk, who claimed that "only the AfD can save Germany." The AfD is poised to take second place in an upcoming German election, highlighting its growing influence despite its contentious classification.
A former US official reflected on Vance's actions and their potential long-term implications for German politics:
“We don’t need to see him, he won’t be chancellor long.”
Amid the uproar, Vance defended his engagement with the AfD leader by challenging European leaders' response to their electorates:
“If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you.”
The meeting has underscored broader geopolitical tensions and differing perspectives on democracy and governance within Europe. Vance's team appeared to question similarities between Europe's current political climate and authoritarian regimes:
“If I understood him correctly, he is comparing conditions in parts of Europe with those in authoritarian regimes. That is unacceptable, and it is not the Europe and not the democracy in which I live and am currently campaigning.”