The Trump administration is making headlines. It is supporting a German political party. The party is called Alternative for Germany, or AfD. This group has Nazi echoes. It has grown popular lately. Many are upset about this support.
Vice President JD Vance spoke recently. He gave an interview to NBC News. He said governments should not attack other political groups. He meant the German government. They are trying to limit AfD. Vance thinks this is wrong.
AfD is a far-right party. It has been linked to Nazi ideas. Some leaders use old Nazi slogans. They downplay the horrors of the Holocaust. German intelligence calls AfD a right-wing extremist group. This label came recently.
AfD has gained more fans. Last year, it won a state election. This was a first for a far-right party since the Nazi era. The party got second place in national elections in February. It had over 20% of the votes. This worries many Germans.
The Trump team is vocal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke up. He criticized Germanyโs actions. He called them unfair. Rubio and Vance say Germany is attacking AfD. They believe this hurts democracy.
Germanyโs new leader is not happy. His name is Friedrich Merz. He became chancellor this month. Merz told the U.S. to stay out. He said America should not meddle in German politics. Relations between the two countries are tense.
AfDโs history is troubling. It started in 2013. At first, it focused on leaving the European Union. Then it shifted. It became anti-immigrant after 2015. That year, Germany took in many refugees. AfD used this to grow its support.
The party has faced scandals. Some members praise Nazi history. Others suggest not all Nazi soldiers were bad. One leader was fined for using Nazi slogans. There are also claims of spying for Russia and China. This adds to the controversy.
Germany tried to control AfD. The intelligence agency labeled it extremist. This lets them watch the party closely. They can use cameras and informants. AfD fought back. They took the issue to court. For now, the label is paused.
The Trump support is a pattern. They often back far-right groups. Elon Musk, a Trump ally, also supports AfD. He spoke at their events. Musk said Germans should move past their history. He meant the guilt over Nazi crimes.
People on X are talking. Some agree with Trumpโs view. They think AfD is just a normal party _
. Others are angry. They call AfD dangerous. One post said, โThey are Nazis.โ The debate is heating up.
Germany is at a crossroads. The country remembers its Nazi past. It fears a repeat. AfDโs rise is a challenge. Merz must decide what to do. Some want to ban the party. Others say that could cause more problems.
Trumpโs support adds pressure. It makes AfD seem more normal. This worries Germanyโs leaders. They want to stop extremism. But they also want to keep democracy strong. The situation is tricky.
This story is not over. The U.S. and Germany are allies. But this issue divides them. AfD keeps growing. Many watch to see what happens next. The world is paying attention.
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