Jewish Democrats Blast Trump White House’s Embrace of German Far-Right

WASHINGTON — Following Vice President JD Vance’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference and meeting with Alice Weidel, the head of the Alternative for Germany Party, on Friday, the CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) Halie Soifer said:

“At the Munich Security Conference, Vice President Vance conveyed a vision for abandoning Ukraine, capitulating to Russia, and aligning with the far-right. While in Munich, Vice President Vance also met with the head of Germany’s far-right AfD Party, Alice Weidel, who just this week denigrated Holocaust remembrance as a ‘guilt cult.’

“Vance’s meeting follows Elon Musk’s meddling in the February 23 German elections to boost the AfD, when Musk encouraged the AfD and Germany to ‘move beyond’ the horrors of World War Two. This, despite the fact that the AfD has been under observation by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency for suspected extremism.

“Jewish Americans are horrified that American leaders would normalize, let alone embrace, far-right extremists at home and abroad. The White House’s clear and consistent alignment with the German far-right is yet more evidence – on top of Trump’s pardoning and releasing from jail dangerous extremists in the United States and appointing officials with white nationalist ties to national security positions – that extremists and antisemites have an ally in Donald Trump. 

“As the American people face real challenges, the Trump White House is embracing far-right extremists in the United States and globally, which is a direct threat and danger to the Jewish people. In his remarks at the Munich Security Conference, JD Vance warned Europe of a so-called ‘threat from within.’ We agree there is a ‘threat within’ and believe that threat is emanating from this White House.”

###