Germany's ambassador to the United States, Andreas Michaelis, has warned that the incoming Trump administration will pursue a divisive policy. There is a risk of "maximum concentration of power by the president at the expense of Congress and the member states," Andreas Michaelis said in his confidential analysis, which was first made public by the German Foreign Minister in an interview with Die Welt.
The secret document, dated January 14 and signed by Ambassador Andreas Michaelis, describes Donald Trump's agenda for his second term in the White House as "a redefinition of the constitutional order - maximum concentration of power with the president at the expense of Congress and the federal states."
"Basic democratic principles and checks and balances will be greatly undermined, the legislature, law enforcement and media will be robbed of their independence and misused as a political arm, Big Tech will be given co-ruling power," he says.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would "continue to work closely together [with the US], but of course we also want to continue to defend our interests." Asked to explain the ambassador's stance towards Trump on German public broadcaster ZDF, Baerbock said Michaelis was simply doing his job and that Trump had openly stated much of his agenda, A2 CNN reports.
The document cites the judiciary, and particularly the US Supreme Court, as a focal point in Trump's efforts to advance his agenda, but says that despite the court's recent decision to expand presidential powers, "even the biggest critics assume this will prevent the worst from happening."
Musk's repeated support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of the February 23 national election has sparked anger in Berlin, but the government has not unanimously abandoned his platform.
Berlin endured a particularly difficult relationship with the United States during the first Trump administration, facing costly tariffs and criticism for its failure to meet NATO's defense spending target. (A2 Televizion)
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