The US vice president criticized mainstream European politicians for avoiding engagement with their electorate.
During a visit to Germany for the Munich Security Conference, US Vice President J.D. Vance met with Alice Weidel, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Their roughly thirty-minute discussion covered the Ukraine conflict, German domestic policy, and freedom of speech, including Germany’s “firewall” against right-wing influence in government.
This meeting followed Vance’s criticism of European politicians for shunning right-wing parties. Without explicitly naming the AfD, he urged European governments to engage with public opinion or forfeit their claim to democracy. He referenced Elon Musk’s endorsement of Weidel for chancellor, dismissing German government accusations of election interference as a free speech issue and criticizing European leaders’ response.
The AfD, while denying being far-right and claiming to represent German interests through its anti-immigration stance, remains under surveillance for extremism. Despite this, its popularity is rising, currently placing second in polls with 21% support ahead of the February 23rd election.
Weidel, while not commenting directly on the meeting, praised Vance’s Munich speech on X, specifically endorsing his views on the “firewall.”
According to Reuters, citing Vance’s office, he met with leaders from all major German parties, including CDU leader Friedrich Merz. Merz, while initially affirming transatlantic ties after his meeting with Vance, later deemed Vance’s Munich speech “tantamount to interference.”
Other German politicians also condemned Vance’s comments, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz stating on X that the far-right should be excluded from political decision-making and criticizing Vance’s unsolicited advice.