Image source, Reuters

It’s not unprecedented for Trump’s administration to weigh in on domestic issues faced by visiting leaders. In Germany’s case, JD Vance has previously commented on local politics – namely the far right Alternative für Germany (AfD) party.

Mainstream political parties in Germany maintain a so-called “firewall” of non-cooperation with the AfD. In the decades since democracy was restored in Germany after the defeat of the Nazis, there has been a consensus among its main political parties not to work with far-right parties.

“Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters,” Vance said during the Munich Security Conference in February. “There’s no room for firewalls. You either uphold the principle or you don’t.”

The AfD’s candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, later shared parts of his speech on X, praising it as “excellent”. Vance then met with Weidel, just weeks before a German election

Later, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius addressed Vance. “Democracy was called into question by the US vice-president for the whole of Europe.

“He speaks of the annihilation of democracy,” Pistorius continued. “And if I have understood him correctly, he is comparing conditions in parts of Europe with those in authoritarian regimes… that is not acceptable.”