Summary
- Beatrix
von Storch is deputy leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party. - She
reportedly held a White House meeting in September 2025. - The
meeting signals closer ties between AfD figures and US political figures. - AfD
known for anti-immigration stance and EU skepticism.
Following Vice President JD Vance‘s declaration of support
for the AfD immediately after assuming office in January, the visit underscores
the growing cooperation between the AfD and the Trump administration.
Joachim Paul, an AfD politician from the western German
state of Rhineland-Palatinate who was running for mayor of Ludwigshafen but was
removed from the vote due to legal issues, accompanied von Storch.
According to the people, the two had meetings with
representatives from Vance’s office, the State Department, and the U.S.
National Security Council. They did not meet with the vice president, according
to an AfD official who was given anonymity to speak about the delicate subject.
Vance’s office chose not to respond.
According to the same AfD circles, the discussions centered
on electoral rules and democratic engagement. Paul, whose candidacy was rejected
by a German court earlier this year, was used as an example of what the AfD
refers to as Germany’s shrinking political liberties.
Vance caused a stir at the Munich Security Conference in
February when he questioned Germany’s political “firewall” against
the AfD, which is a political pact among other parties to exclude the far-right
party from government. According to mainstream parties, the goal of the
strategy is to prevent a recurrence of the Nazi era in the nation.
In a speech focused on democratic representation, Vance
argued that excluding the far-right party from dialogue undermines voter
legitimacy.
“There is no place for firewalls,”
Vance said, in comments
interpreted by most as referring to German politics. Later, in Munich, Vance
went a step further by holding a meeting with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel.
The subject of Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian
President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison last week for
trying to stage a coup after losing Brazil’s 2022 election, was also discussed
during the talks. Eduardo, a federal deputy in the Brazilian Congress who is
also facing criminal charges and is currently in self-imposed exile in the
United States, has developed strong connections with right-wing networks in
both Europe and the United States.
The younger Bolsonaro has established himself as a fervent
opponent of left-leaning administrations in Latin America and an advocate for
conservative issues, making him a common point of reference for far-right
politicians looking for global support.
According to one AfD official, U.S. interlocutors expressed
alarm about potential curbs on free expression and gave background information
on election law.
According to their party’s understanding of the discussions,
the AfD insider stated that politicians couldn’t just be taken off lists if
anything similar occurred in the United States since Americans don’t tolerate
restrictions on their right to free speech.
According to the people, the AfD’s national board and
parliamentary group approved the trip. In order to attend follow-up meetings,
including at the State Department, von Storch and Paul are anticipated to stay
in Washington for a few more days.
