The German Ambassador to the United States, Andreas Mihaelis, has warned that the new Trump administration plans to undermine the independence of U.S. police forces and media, while granting “co-governance power” to major tech companies, according to a leaked confidential document obtained by Reuters.
The document, signed by Mihaelis on January 14, outlines Donald Trump’s agenda for his second term in the White House, which he believes will lead to the “redefinition of the constitutional order” and the maximal concentration of presidential power over Congress and federal states.
Mihaelis describes how basic democratic principles, checks and balances of power, legislation, law enforcement agencies, and the media will be severely undermined and abused, with large tech companies gaining co-governing powers. “The independence of legislative bodies, law enforcement, and media will be stripped away and misused,” Mihaelis wrote in the note.
The document also highlights the judiciary, particularly the U.S. Supreme Court, as central to Trump’s efforts to implement his plan. Mihaelis views control over the Department of Justice and the FBI as crucial for Trump to achieve his political and personal goals, which include mass deportations, retribution against perceived enemies, and legal impunity.
Furthermore, Mihaelis predicts a “redefinition of the First Amendment,” noting that Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), are already taking actions against critics and media companies that do not cooperate. “One uses lawsuits, threats of criminal prosecution, and license revocation, while the other manipulates algorithms and blocks accounts,” the document states.
Musk’s recent support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of the February 23 elections has angered Berlin, but the German government has not abandoned his platform.
The German government had a difficult relationship with the United States during Trump’s first term, facing high tariffs and criticism for failing to meet NATO defense spending targets.
