Germany’s national conservative Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is reinforcing its transatlantic connections, sending a 20-member delegation to the United States to strengthen relations with President Donald Trump’s Republican Party.
The visitors include Bundestag members Gerold Otte, Jan Nolte, and Hannes Gnauck—who are already at the Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum in Washington—and representatives from the European Parliament and Saxony-Anhalt state parliament.
The official reason for the visit is deputy parliamentary group leader Markus Frohnmaier receiving the “Allen W. Dulles Award” from the New York Young Republican Club for “the courageous work that the AfD does in the particularly repressive and hostile political environment of Germany.” Six members from Saxony-Anhalt are also part of the delegation, exploring bureaucracy reduction and NGO financing.
AfD deputy leader Beatrix von Storch emphasized that the AfD’s positions on migration, free speech, and governance align closely with those of the U.S. Republican Party, highlighting opportunities for cooperation. Frohnmaier added that they will also talk about “the firewall and the observation of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.”
At the same time, recent polls show the AfD consolidating its popularity at home. According to an INSA survey from October, the party hit 27%, its highest ranking ever, with senior figures boasting that it is “heading towards 30% in big strides.”
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel added that “there’s even more to come.”
The trip is officially registered as a delegation visit for Bundestag members, meaning travel expenses are covered by the parliament. The move has drawn criticism from CSU state group leader Alexander Hoffmann, who described the visit as “anti-Germany diplomacy.”
Future programs are planned, to foster networking between younger AfD and Republican politicians and signaling a long-term strategy to strengthen transatlantic political ties. Meanwhile, Trump’s criticisms of the European Union’s leadership continues to resonate with populist movements across Europe.
