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The Hill
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump to meet with Germany's Merz in Washington next week
President Trump is set to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz next week in Washington, marking the first in-person meeting between the two leaders. Merz, the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who was elected as Germany's leader in early March, is expected to visit Trump at the White House on Thursday, June 5, Germany government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said Saturday in a press release. The discussions between the two countries' leaders will focus on bilateral relations between the two, along with discussions around the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, developments in the Middle East and trade policy, according to Kornelius. A White House official confirmed the meeting details to The Hill on Saturday. Merz, similar to Trump, has been pushing for a ceasefire deal in the more than three-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a meeting with Merz on Wednesday in Berlin. There, Merz said that Germany will bolster its backing of Ukraine as part of a more than $5.5 billion agreement, including sending over more military equipment and increasing weapons manufacturing in Kyiv. Germany's chancellor has clashed with members of Trump's administration over the country's government marking the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as an 'extremist' political entity. 'Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That's not democracy—it's tyranny in disguise,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote earlier this month on social media platform X. 'What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD—which took second in the recent election — but rather the establishment's deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes.' Vice President Vance piled on, accusing the government of trying to 'destroy' AfD, which also considers tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk a strong supporter. Merz has pushed back on Trump administration's officials meddling in Germany's domestic politics. 'We have largely stayed out of the American election campaign in recent years, and that includes me personally,' Merz said in an interview with Axel Springer Global Reporters Network that was published on May 7. He added that he told U.S. officials that 'we have not taken sides with either candidate. And I ask you to accept that in return.'
DW
3 hours ago
- Politics
- DW
AfD and radical Christians: An alliance of convenience? – DW – 05/31/2025
The radical right in Germany, Europe and the US portrays itself as the defender of the Christian West against Islam. But religion is not really at the heart of this conflict. "What's your name?" asked Alice Weidel of the young blond man who had just approached the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party for an interview. "LE-O-NARD JÄ-GER is my name," Jäger, wearing a big black jacket over a white shirt, answered boldly. His hair was neatly combed back. "Perhaps you know me," he said. "I was on the trip to the US where we met Donald Trump!" Weidel smiled in a friendly but reserved way. In January, the far-right AfD held its national party congress in Riesa, in the eastern German state of Saxony. For Weidel, the congress wrapped up with a marathon of interviews. TV networks and newspapers wanted to know: Has the AfD become more radical? How far-right has the party become? But Weidel also made sure to set aside plenty of time for right-wing newspapers and YouTubers such as Leonard Jäger. His YouTube channel has half a million subscribers, and his interview with Weidel has been viewed over a million times. "You're always under fire from the media," the young man said, showing his support for the political leader. His interview lasted eight minutes and the main topic was God. Who is Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany's far-right AfD? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Alice Weidel on faith and God "Do you believe in God?" was his first question. Weidel launched into a somewhat roundabout answer: She talked about the water, minerals, and metals that make up the human body — about how fascinating she finds the question of God. And she also mentioned being a very introspective person. "I would like to believe, but I think I need a little more time." Jäger's online persona could be defined as defiant cheerfulness, and he often posts videos of himself engaging in debates with people at left-wing demonstrations. He discusses gender issues, the AfD, homosexuality, and God, and often edits his videos to make his critics look ridiculous. He believes that there are only two genders, that leftists want to introduce children to sex at an early age, and that the elites want to ban everything. In addition, Jäger's answer to the world's problems is often Jesus. Although Weidel doesn't not appear to be especially religious, the AfD does ride the wave of traditional Christian culture and values. The party stokes fears about Islam and a general uncertainty about change. YouTuber Leonard Jäger spoke to Alice Weidel about God Image: Ketzer der Neuzeit/Youtube To many, the image of an ideal world of cheerful snowy Christmas celebrations, peaceful churchgoers, and straightforward rules about right and wrong sounds like the solution for dealing with the complexity of the modern world, which is why, observers say, the AfD maintains close ties to Christian traditions. "My partner is Christian, and she is very devout," Weidel told Jäger. "Our children are also being raised as Christians. I think that's very important for laying a solid foundation." However, devout Christians are somewhat of a rarity in the AfD, and Germany's major Christian churches have accused the party of hate and incitement. Moreover, faith doesn't play as big a role in German society as it once did — a trend that is true for Europe as a whole. The AfD strongholds in eastern Germany are traditionally very secular. Exploiting Christian traditions So why the overtures to Christianity? "Because it is compatible with the political mainstream," said Matthias Kortmann, professor at the Technical University of Dortmund, where he specializes in examining the ties between religion and the radical right. "Many people, even those who don't sympathize with the AfD, would still agree that Christianity plays a special role in Germany's history and culture. And the AfD exploits that," Kortmann told DW. Germany's churches get creative about new ways to worship To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Most of the AfD's references to Christian values are made in their attacks on Islam, which they associate with immigration. Ever since hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Middle East began arriving in Germany in 2015, the party has been warning of the downfall of Western civilization and what they call "population replacement." The AfD often claims that other political parties are deliberately flooding Germany with Muslims in order to destroy their own culture. Around 83 million people live in Germany, 25% of whom have some immigrant background. However, the percentage of Muslims remains much lower. According to official figures from 2020, there are approximately 5.5 million Muslims in Germany, only 6.6% of the population. Nevertheless, prominent AfD politicians like Beatrix von Storch argue that Germany is undergoing a "de-Christianization." In an interview with DW, she warned of the "growing influence of Islamic movements on culture, society, and politics, and the shrinking role of Christian values in public discourse." Von Storch is also a devout Catholic. "I see my duties as serving God and humanity, with a responsibility to promote what is good and to do what is right," she said. AfD lawmaker Beatrix von Storch worries about the shrinking role of Christian values in public discourse in Germany Image: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa/picture alliance Punished for transphobia For von Storch, her faith means fighting abortion, the queer community, and, above all, transgenderism. In fact, her transphobic remarks have got her in trouble in the Bundestag. Last year, she was sanctioned for making offensive remarks about the transgender Green Party MP Tessa Ganserer, even after receiving numerous warnings. Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckart condemned the heckling as "degrading and disrespectful." According to Kortmann, discussions about gender identity are a classic example of how populists try to capitalize on social uncertainty in the modern world. "This is super easy to exploit: Many people are already feeling insecure, and they say, 'now they're also taking away the two-gender system, which was something we could always depend on'," he said. Ultimately, critics see the AfD's relationship with Christianity as instrumental: The party draws on Christian traditions when it suits its agenda. However, the party does not cultivate close ties with the churches. "The AfD must always be careful not to align itself too closely with particular groups that, upon closer inspection, may generate significant skepticism among the general population," said Kortmann. He thinks Christian fundamentalists are the exception in the AfD: "Because these groups are not only against transgenderism, but perhaps also have a very outdated view of women or are against same-sex marriage. All of that is absolutely accepted in society." Piety as a political force: Europe and the US Up until now, the influence of Christianity on politics has generally been one of the major differences between Europe and the US, where evangelical billionaires sometimes use enormous sums of money to shape politics in the name of God. Many of them support the radical right surrounding Donald Trump. But according to Philipp Greifenstein, this phenomenon is now also spreading to Europe. Greifenstein is editor of the German online magazine Die Eule, which covers religious politics, the church, and theology. "Right-wing or far-right influencers are using religion as a way to downplay their own views and to curry favor with the evangelical movement in the US," Greifenstein told DW. "Financial reasons definitely play a role here, because this US movement has a lot of money at its disposal." Greifenstein argues that many Christian influencers are more impressed by US dollars than by the evangelical message. "I don't get the impression that Leonard Jäger wants to promote Christ. It's all about expanding reach." That is a goal that Jäger certainly shares with Alice Weidel and the AfD. This article was originally written in German. While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
New European
20 hours ago
- Politics
- New European
Donald Trump's digital landgrab
The department of the US government most responsible for managing its relationships with friendly nations has accused Europe of engaging in a 'strategy of censorship, demonization, and bureaucratic weaponization'. It goes on to suggest that 'the global liberal project' is 'trampling democracy, and western heritage along with it, in the name of a decadent governing class afraid of its own people'. Here in the maelstrom of Donald Trump's second term, the state department sets out the US government's diplomatic position on Substack . That is, at this stage, perhaps the most normal thing that it does. While the delivery mechanism may be unconventional, it is nothing when compared to the content of the message. This is an astonishing series of accusations to make against any ally, but especially against fellow western democracies which have served as US allies throughout the Cold War – especially at a time when Trump is visibly courting dictators in the middle east and when his administration spent much of its first months cosying up to Vladimir Putin. Much of what the state department is complaining about is, frankly, none of the US government's business: it raises Germany's designation of the AfD as an extremist party, or the conviction in France of Marine Le Pen for charges connected with embezzlement. These are, very obviously, the internal affairs of the country concerned – and when European countries have dared to comment on such matters in the US, Trump's team have responded with spluttering indignation. It is worth stopping for a moment to acknowledge that we should not dismiss concerns over free expression or elections just because of who is raising them. It is a matter of legitimate public debate whether it is right, either morally or tactically, for Germany to proscribe the AfD. Similarly, there are serious questions to ask about the rate at which the UK is arresting people in connection with their social media posts – 1,000 people per month seems extremely high, especially with routine crimes like shoplifting or street assaults going unpunished. But the state department raising an issue is very different from a Fox News talking head doing the same, or even from a US politician raising it. For one thing, diplomacy is a serious business, and it is steeped in endless norms about what is and isn't the business of other nations. Trump's state department is explicitly threatening the future of the transatlantic alliance based on matters that are traditionally nothing to do with it. Moreover, state claims its concerns 'are not partisan but principled', continuing piously: 'The suppression of speech, facilitation of mass migration, targeting of religious expression, and undermining of electoral choice threatens the very foundation of the transatlantic partnership.' At present, Trump is personally suing multiple television channels that have criticised him. He is, as president, threatening those same channels with losing their broadcast licences. He is investigating the social media activity of anyone applying for a student visa to enter the USA. He is attempting to deport students for writing pro-Gaza op-eds – without threatening violence – in student publications. He is interfering with law firms that represent people or causes with which he does not agree. The list goes on, and on, and on – the state department's claims to have a 'principled' concern about free expression in Europe simply do not pass the laugh test. If they are so bothered about free speech, why are they serving in an administration that has all but openly declared war on the first amendment? The implications of the state department missive go much deeper, though. Already the administration is threatening to revoke the credentials of European officials who speak out on the enforcement of European social media rules. At first, this might appear at least slightly more legitimate than some of the state department's other claims – the big tech companies are, after all, mostly American. This falls apart under further scrutiny, though. McDonald's is an all-American company, but when it operates in the UK it has to meet UK food safety rules, comply with UK employment law, and pay the minimum wage – and no-one bats an eyelid at this. Similarly, when US tech companies provide services to Europeans who are located in Europe, it is not unreasonable for their governments to expect to oversee the terms of that interaction. The state department is now claiming otherwise: if you're on the internet and using a service provided by a US tech company, they say, then Donald Trump sets the rules. The US is quietly declaring sovereignty over cyberspace and expecting the world to acquiesce, making an unprecedented digital landgrab in the name of freedom. This is not something the rest of the world is likely to tolerate, and nor should it. Trump generates endless sound and fury, and this row is likely to get lost among others that seem far more urgent. But in the online era, and as governments turn to AI as the future of the economy, this might be the most significant of all. Trump's attempts to claim Greenland or Canada might get the headlines – but his attempt to claim the internet is far more real, and far more dangerous.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The State Department Published A Substack Manifesto On ‘Western Civilizational Heritage'
Everyone has a newsletter now, even the United States Department of State. And, since taking to Substack in late April, the agency tasked with articulating and representing America's foreign policy interests on the world stage has published a manifesto of sorts touting the need for this country and Europe to 'recommit to our Western heritage.' The piece in question was titled 'The Need For Civilizational Allies In Europe.' It was published on Tuesday and authored by Samuel Samson, a senior adviser in the department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Among other things, Samson argued there is 'an aggressive campaign against Western civilization itself' that includes 'digital censorship, mass migration, [and] restrictions on religious freedom.' 'On both sides of the Atlantic, we must preserve the goods of our common culture, ensuring that Western civilization remains a source of virtue, freedom, and human flourishing for generations to come,' Samson wrote. The Substack post made headlines because it came as Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new wave of visa restrictions on Chinese students and foreigners deemed to be 'complicit in censoring Americans.' Yet the post was important not just because it was another salvo in President Trump and the right's fight against content moderation and alleged censorship. Samson's rhetoric arguing against 'mass migration' and in favor of 'Western heritage' sharply echoes the ideology of many extremist and even white nationalist groups. A 'backgrounder' published by the Anti Defamation League in 2020 laid out how figures involved in 'alt right' politics tend to 'avoid explicit white supremacist references' and instead 'use terms like 'culture' as substitutes for more divisive terms such as 'race,' and promote 'Western Civilization' as a code word for white culture or identity.' That rhetoric was used for the promotion of the 2017 Charlottesville rally, which included multiple neo-Nazi groups. Affiliated organizations like the explicitly pro-Trump antisemitic group National Justice Party, which has a podcast named for the Holocaust, have used the term. The Proud Boys, a militant group whose leadership has included four people charged with seditious conspiracy related to the January 6 attack before being pardoned by President Trump, also describe themselves as focused on 'Western Chauvinism.' Samson's piece also waded into European politics and similarly promoted ultranationalist perspectives. He defended a far-right party and candidate — Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party and French National Rally leader Marine Le Pen — and suggested they have faced undue censorship. German intelligence has labeled AfD as extremist for suggesting Muslim immigrants are not equal. Candidates promoted by Le Pen and her party have made racist comments and engaged in Holocaust denial. TPM reached out to the State Department on Thursday to ask about the essay and the fact it echoes some of this white nationalist rhetoric. A spokesperson asked us to 'extend' our deadline for comment until Friday, but did not reply to subsequent emails. 'Alt right' and white supremacist-adjacent ideals promoting 'western civilization,' denunciations of immigration as a threat to culture, and links with far-right figures in Europe have all been a feature of the second Trump administration. In March, Trump signed an executive order aimed at stopping federally funded historical sites, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and other parts of the Smithsonian Institution, from promoting what it described as 'divisive, race-centered ideology' rather than 'Western values.' Vice President J.D. Vance also touched on these themes in a speech at the conservative Heritage Foundation in April. 'I think that what we've learned over the last few months is that the American people, and I think western peoples, are a hell of a lot more resilient than our elites give them credit for,' he said, later adding, 'I think if we speak the truth, if we refuse to live by lies, then I think we can redeliver on the promise of Western civilization.' And earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to Germany's designation of AfD as an extremist group as 'tryanny in disguise.' Rubio and his State Department have also been at the forefront of Trump's efforts to curb immigration — and have continually discussed this in terms that echo those of the American 'alt right' and European ultranationalists. On Thursday, the State Department notified Congress about plans for a sweeping reorganization that would include cutting jobs, reworking the agency's refugee bureau into a 'Remigration' office aimed at returning immigrants to their home countries, and prioritizing 'Western values' at its human rights bureau. Samson, the author of the State Department's Substack manifesto, is representative of a wave of young activists and staffers who have gravitated towards these nationalist perspectives. His career and activism prior to joining the government was boosted and guided by conservative groups that are promoting these ideas. Prior to joining the Trump administration, Samson spent over two years at 'American Moment,' a nonprofit whose major funders include the Conservative Partnership Institute, an organization that was deeply involved in Trump's attempts to reverse his 2020 election loss. 'American Moment,' which was founded in 2021, is designed to 'identify, educate, and credential young Americans who will implement public policy.' The group's priorities include restricting immigration and promoting traditional values in 'the West.' Before writing for the State Department on Substack, Samson published pieces for a variety of conservative publications, including a 2022 article for The Federalist that declared, 'the modern West is itself a culture looking down.' 'Our culture is dominated by passions, of pursuit for the sake of good feelings and satisfaction,' Samson wrote. 'Activity is reduced to binge streaming, social media scrolling, face stuffing, and chronic porn watching.' Samson has locked his page on the site formerly known as Twitter. The Internet Archive shows that he maintained a presence on the site, including penning poems that criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's efforts to solicit international aid for his country's war with Russia. Samson graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021. Coverage from the school's Daily Texan newspaper indicates he spent his college years involved in the Young Conservatives of Texas, the Zionist Organization of America, and working as a legislative staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). He also participated in a 2019 event with conservative commentator Steven Crowder where, according to the paper, Samson argued in front of other students that 'there are only two genders.' In multiple articles published by the college paper, Samson suggested he faced 'harassment' on campus for his conservative views. The young man who would go on to publish arguments against migration also made an interesting early comment about his pathway to right-wing politics. In a 2018 interview in which he endorsed Cruz's re-election bid that year, Samson said his mother was an immigrant who went through the naturalization process. 'She worked her butt off wanting to come to this country, and I think that's a microcosm of why I'm a conservative,' Samson said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
German far-right leader Weidel says Orbán is 'beacon of freedom'
Alice Weidel, co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, on Friday praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as a "beacon of freedom" during a conference held in Budapest. Addressing her audience in English, Weidel said: "The wind of change is blowing." Referring to a decision by Germany's domestic intelligence agency to classify her party, which took second place in the February elections, as extremist, Weidel said: "They spy on the opposition, to denounce the AfD as an enemy of the constitution, fabricating a pretext for outlawing our party." Weidel said to loud applause from the audience that moves to have the AfD banned by the German courts would not prevail. The intelligence agency has said it will refrain from classifying the AfD as "confirmed right-wing extremist" until a Cologne civil court has ruled on an urgent application from the party. The annual gathering in Budapest is linked to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the United States. Orbán uses the event to promote networking between international right-wing organizations. A common thread is a favourable attitude towards Russia under President Vladimir Putin. This year the conference drew attendances from Herbert Kickl, head of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. US President Donald Trump sent greetings by video.
