The decision by Germany’s domestic intelligence service to classify the Alternative for Germany party as “right-wing extremist” has led to strained relations between the US and Germany.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls the actions of those in power “tyranny in disguise” and points out that it is Germany’s boundless mass immigration policy that is “extremist” – not the nationalist party that the authorities now intend to spy on.

Recently, The Nordic Times drew attention to how the German constitutional protection agency decided to classify the entire AfD as a “right-wing extremist” organization – because of its immigration-critical rhetoric and nationalist ideology. In practice, this means that the state is given expanded powers to monitor the party, for example through wiretapping and the use of infiltrators.

Although the German establishment has a long tradition of combating or criminalizing political dissent, the latest announcement comes as a shock to many – not least because the AfD is now the second largest party in the country and the largest in some eastern German states.

One person who has reacted strongly to the fact that the party, despite its popularity, has now been labeled an enemy of the German state is US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who argues that it is rather the establishment parties that should be considered “extremists”.

“Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy – it’s tyranny in disguise. What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD – which took second in the recent election – but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes. Germany should reverse course”, he writes on X.

This is democracy. This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law. It is independent courts that will have the final say. We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped.

— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) May 2, 2025

Germany: “Right-wing extremism needs to be stopped”

Vice President JD Vance shares this view, pointing out that the Berlin Wall has been rebuilt—but this time not by a foreign occupying power, but by Germany’s own politicians.

“The AfD is the most popular party in Germany, and by far the most representative of East Germany. Now the bureaucrats try to destroy it. The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt – not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishmentt”.

The AfD is the most popular party in Germany, and by far the most representative of East Germany. Now the bureaucrats try to destroy it.

The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt—not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment. https://t.co/Un6suHtSNJ

— JD Vance (@JDVance) May 2, 2025

However, the German Foreign Ministry defends the AfD’s extremist label, arguing that “this is democracy”.

“This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law. It is independent courts that will have the final say. We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped”, they stated.

“European courts cancelling elections”

The Nordic Times has previously highlighted how JD Vance has already condemned the European establishment and accused it of undermining democracy and citizens’ freedom of expression.

– When we see European courts cancelling elections and senior officials threatening to cancel others, we ought to ask whether we’re holding ourselves to an appropriately high standard? asked the US Vice President during the security conference in Munich in February, continuing:

– If your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasn’t very strong to begin with.