Trump hails AfD’s ‘big’ victory in Germany state election, blasts country’s immigration rules

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Tuesday, September 8, celebrated the Alternative for Germany’s (AfD) victory in a key German state election, calling it a “really big night” and linking the party’s performance to Germany’s immigration policies.

The AfD won 44% of the vote in Sunday’s, August 30, election in Saxony-Anhalt, finishing first but falling three seats short of an absolute majority. The result puts the party within reach of governing a German state for the first time since World War II, although it would need a coalition partner or would have to govern as a minority administration.

Trump credits AfD victory to immigration policies

Trump addressed the election result in a post on Truth Social, arguing that German voters had turned against the country’s existing immigration policies. “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,” Trump wrote.

Trump’s comments echoed a central issue in the AfD’s campaign, which has called for significant restrictions on immigration and changes to Germany’s asylum and deportation policies.

The party’s 258-page manifesto calls for the immediate deportation of irregular migrants, expanded detention facilities and the return of some non-ethnic-German citizens to their countries of origin under a policy it calls “remigration.”

Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s 35-year-old lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, has said people required to leave Germany should be placed in deportation custody under an AfD government. The party has also called for a “remigration offensive” involving Ukrainians, arguing that parts of Ukraine are safe enough for their return.

Trump’s reference to making Germany great again (MGGA) also echoes the slogan associated with his own political movement, “Make America Great Again,” which has emphasized tighter immigration controls and border restrictions.

The AfD is classified by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency as a “confirmed right wing extremist” party. Its rise in Saxony-Anhalt has raised concerns among migrants and minority communities as the party seeks to translate its electoral support into governing power.

AfD faces challenge of turning election win into power

Despite winning the largest share of the vote, the AfD does not have enough seats to govern the state alone. The party must either secure support from another party or attempt to form a minority government, making its next steps dependent on negotiations following the election.

The party has also proposed changing the school curriculum and removing what Siegmund describes as ideological influence from classrooms. Its proposals include banning Pride flags in schools and placing greater emphasis on traditional German values.

Trump supporters also celebrated the AfD’s result. Richard Grenell, who served as US ambassador to Germany during Trump’s first administration, called the result “a huge win and a new day in Germany.”

Elon Musk, who has previously described the AfD as “the best hope for the future of Germany,” responded to AfD co-leader Alice Weidel’s post about the result by writing, “Well done!” 

Siegmund thanked Musk for his support and said he would “welcome the opportunity for strong and constructive cooperation.” He added, “Germany would once again be a place worth investing in.”