Donald Trump praises AfD election win in Germany, prompting pushback from Berlin

Trump endorses German regional election result

On Tuesday evening, US President Donald Trump celebrated the election outcome in Saxony-Anhalt, where Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 43.8% of the vote. Trump had previously posted an uncaptioned projection graphic on Truth Social on Sunday night before writing a formal endorsement. In his post, Trump attributed the result to voter frustration over German immigration policy and introduced the acronym "MGGA" (Make Germany Great Again). The AfD state branch in Saxony-Anhalt is classified by regional intelligence authorities as a proven right-wing extremist organisation.

Wow! The Populist Party in Germany just had a really big night. They finally got tired of the absolutely horrible Immigration rules and regulations which have hurt Germany so badly. THEY ARE ON THE RISE, and not going to take it anymore! MGGA!!!

Political shift in Saxony-Anhalt

The regional election on Sunday altered the state legislature in Saxony-Anhalt, a state of 2.1 million residents with nearly 1 billion euros in annual exports to the United States. Led by 35-year-old Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD finished as the strongest force, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) dropped to 17.2% and failed to secure any direct mandates. Merz stated that he was deeply shocked by the defeat. Although the AfD did not reach an absolute majority, party leaders expressed hopes of recruiting individual conservative lawmakers to form a government, while traditional parties sought to maintain a cross-party coalition.

German government and lawmakers reject US comments

German officials across the governing coalition rejected Trump's remarks on Wednesday. Metin Hakverdi, the transatlantic coordinator for the German federal government, stated that Berlin would manage its own internal affairs without foreign instruction.

We Germans decide for ourselves how we deal with migration, and also whom we vote for. We do not need advice from the White House.

Dirk Wiese, the parliamentary managing director of the SPD Bundestag faction, called Trump's congratulation of a far-right cadre party extremely disconcerting. Wiese noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin was also among the first to congratulate the AfD, and he urged Merz to challenge Trump during their next meeting. Wiese argued that US tariffs and foreign policy had harmed the German economy, while AfD policies calling for withdrawal from the euro and the Schengen zone posed further economic risks. He also supported a proposal by North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst to create a federal-state panel evaluating potential party ban proceedings.

Broader transatlantic connections

Trump's comments follow expanding relations between his administration and the AfD since January 2025. Co-leader Alice Weidel attended events surrounding Trump's inauguration and described him as a role model. US Vice President JD Vance met Weidel during the Munich Security Conference in February 2025, where Vance delivered a speech urging German political leaders to dismantle the firewall excluding populist parties.

Prominent figures within Trump's political circle echoed his support after the vote. Elon Musk, who addressed an AfD rally via video link prior to the February 2025 federal elections, posted congratulations to Weidel on X. Former US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell described the Saxony-Anhalt result as a big win and a new day for Germany.