Jens Spahn, the chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, made sharp criticism of how U.S. government circles treat the AfD. He told the weekly papers of the Funke Media Group that it is “annoying that the AfD is accepted as a conversation partner in Washington”. Spahn said that much of the AfD is “Putin’s troops” that they are operating for China and that they do not have the strengthening of the trans‑Atlantic alliance in mind. “This is an entirely unnecessary, irritating elevation of that party” he added, and noted that the Union will not accept it.
Spahn was also upset with remarks made by former President Donald Trump: “Many of the U.S. president’s statements and decisions are annoying and unacceptable”. As an example, he cited Trump’s mocking comments about German soldiers in Afghanistan.
At the same time Spahn urged calm. He said he understands why some might want to confront Trump, but public escalation does nothing. “We’re not powerless against the United States; we must communicate clearly but calmly” he warned. The United States remains Germany’s most important ally outside Europe, and he stressed that “our security depends on America”.
