U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticizes Germany’s labeling of AfD as extremist, calling it a “hidden tyranny” and defending the party’s anti-immigration stance.
The United States has voiced sharp disapproval of Germany’s recent classification of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a far-right extremist organization.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the move, describing it as a “hidden tyranny” that undermines democratic principles. Writing on the platform X, Rubio urged Berlin to “change course,” arguing that the true threat is not the AfD, but the ruling establishment’s “deadly open-border immigration policies” — policies that the AfD openly opposes.
“This isn’t democracy – this is tyranny in disguise,” Rubio wrote. “Germany has just granted its intelligence agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s a dangerous precedent.”
The remarks come just days after Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) officially labeled the AfD as a far-right extremist party, following years of investigation. The ruling grants the BfV broader surveillance authority over the AfD and reignited debates about whether the party should be banned altogether.
American Support for AfD Gains Visibility
This is not the first instance of high-level U.S. engagement with the AfD. At the Munich Security Conference in February, U.S. Vice President JD Vance subtly warned of democratic erosion in Germany, indirectly referencing the establishment’s treatment of the AfD.
Vance held a private meeting with Alice Weidel, co-leader of the AfD, who also received campaign support from Trump advisor Elon Musk. Meanwhile, AfD co-chair Tino Chrupalla attended President Trump’s recent inauguration ceremony in Washington.
Rubio’s comments highlight growing transatlantic friction over political values, particularly surrounding immigration policy, national identity, and democratic oversight.
While Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) cautioned against “hasty decisions” regarding an AfD ban, the classification itself is seen as a major step toward legal and political isolation of the party — a party that placed second in the last federal elections.
As the U.S. increasingly shows alignment with right-wing European movements, diplomatic tensions around democratic definitions and internal surveillance policies appear set to deepen.
