The German government declined to comment publicly on a recent speech given by US President Donald Trump. When approached by the dts Nachrichtenagentur, Deputy Government Spokesperson Sebastian Hille stated on Friday, “You can assume that we have taken note of it, naturally.”
Trump’s nationally addressed talk called for election reform, arguing that such changes were necessary to safeguard against foreign influence. He specifically alleged that China had stolen election data. When asked how concerned the German government is about such problems domestically, Hille remained measured, asserting, “We naturally reject any interference in elections, in Germany and also in other countries.”
According to Trump, intelligence documents demonstrate significant weaknesses in the US electoral infrastructure, along with evidence of foreign influence attempts. Critics contend that Trump is using this rhetoric to pre-stage conspiracy theories ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, during which Republicans might face losses according to polls.
However, the issue of foreign influence has not been unknown in Germany. In the past, official voices within the German government have expressed concern about this topic. For instance, shortly before the 2025 Bundestag election, a response to a query from members of parliament noted that it could be expected that “foreign influence actors will attempt to positively influence the election in their favor.”
