Far-right AfD win signals shift in Germany, raises alarm in Europe
PBS News Hour – Politics — 2026-09-07 17:50:00 — www.pbs.org
President Donald Trump Amplifies German Far-Right AfD Victory on Social Media
President Donald Trump shared news of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s major election victory in Saxony-Anhalt on social media, highlighting a moment that has sent shockwaves through German and European politics. The AfD, which has been labeled as xenophobic and extremist by German intelligence, secured 44 percent of seats in the state parliament, coming just three seats short of a majority.
Trump’s decision to spotlight the AfD’s win comes amid growing international concern about the rise of far-right parties in Europe. The AfD’s platform is staunchly anti-immigration, and its leaders have made statements widely criticized as Islamophobic, antisemitic, and antidemocratic. The party’s victory marks a significant shift in a region that previously supported the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
The reaction in Germany has been one of alarm. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose approval ratings have plummeted, called the result “the most serious election defeat that the CDU has had for years, for decades.” International leaders, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, described the outcome as a warning of the far right’s growing influence across Europe.
Trump’s public sharing of the AfD’s success underscores his ongoing willingness to amplify far-right movements abroad, even as European leaders warn of the destabilizing effects such parties can have on democracy and regional stability. The episode also follows Vice President J.D. Vance’s controversial appearance alongside AfD leaders last year, where he criticized Germany’s longstanding refusal to cooperate with extremist parties.
As Germany braces for further elections and potential political upheaval, Trump’s endorsement of the AfD’s win signals continued transatlantic attention—and controversy—over the future of far-right politics in Europe.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/far-right-afd-win-signals-shift-in-germany-raises-alarm-in-europe