German Chancellor Postpones Call With Trump After President Celebrates Far Right Victory

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has postponed a scheduled phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. The conversation, which was intended to address the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, was delayed following Trump's public celebration of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's victory in regional elections in Saxony Anhalt. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the populist party had a great night and criticized Germany's immigration policies as absolutely horrible. He concluded his message with the phrase Make Germany Great Again, a variation of his own campaign slogan.

In the Saxony Anhalt elections, the AfD secured a significant victory, receiving approximately 44 percent of the vote. In contrast, the center right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Merz, suffered a major defeat, receiving around 17 percent. While the AfD is classified as a proven far right party by German intelligence services, the party has denied these labels and stated that its policies remain within the law.

Chancellor Merz has strongly condemned the AfD, describing their proposal for remigration as a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin color. Trump, however, framed the AfD's success as a sign that Germans are tired of current immigration rules. While the German government spokesperson did not explicitly link the postponement of the call to Trump's comments, noting it was not a matter of agenda, the timing has drawn significant attention. Other figures, including Elon Musk and a former U.S. ambassador to Germany, also celebrated the AfD's results.