Berlin, Germany – February 15, 2025
In a resolute speech on Saturday morning, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed Germany’s unwavering commitment to democracy and condemned any attempts to undermine it. This declaration followed sharp criticism from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who met with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader the previous day.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Vice President Vance expressed concerns over what he perceives as a decline in free speech across Europe. He argued that many Americans view European governments as curbing dissent under the guise of combating misinformation and disinformation. “Entrenched interests hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation, simply don’t like the idea that somebody with an alternative viewpoint might express a different opinion or, God forbid, vote a different way, or even worse, win an election,” Vance stated.
Vance further highlighted his fears about a “threat from within,” suggesting that Europe’s democratic values, shared with the United States, are retreating. He placed less emphasis on external threats from Russia or China compared to this internal challenge.
The Vice President’s comments came after his meeting with Alice Weidel, co-leader of the far-right and anti-immigrant AfD party. This interaction, occurring just nine days before the German election, sparked controversy given Germany’s historical stance against far-right ideologies. Mainstream German parties have consistently refused to collaborate with the AfD, a position rooted in the nation’s desire to avoid repeating the atrocities of its Nazi past.
Chancellor Scholz, addressing these developments, firmly reiterated Germany’s historical mandate of “never again”—a commitment to preventing the resurgence of fascism, racism, or wars of aggression. He condemned the AfD, pointing out that some of its members had trivialized Nazi crimes. Scholz emphasized that supporting or aligning with the AfD contradicts Germany’s core democratic values.
In response to Vance’s criticism, Scholz asserted, “Germany is a very strong democracy, and as a strong democracy, we are absolutely clear that the extreme right should be out of political control and out of political decision-making processes, and that there will be no cooperation with them.” He added that free speech in Europe entails respecting laws that prevent harmful attacks on others.
The exchange between Scholz and Vance underscores the ongoing tensions between European leaders and the Trump administration on issues such as democracy and Ukraine’s future. European leaders are grappling with a new and challenging stance from Washington, disrupting long-standing trans-Atlantic conventions.
On the issue of Ukraine, Scholz reaffirmed the shared goal of preserving Ukraine’s independence, insisting that any decisions about Ukraine must involve Ukraine itself. He emphasized the necessity of continued support for Ukraine from both the European Union and the United States, to prevent future aggression.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing a potential peace deal over Ukraine. Trump assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine would have a seat at the negotiation table. Zelenskyy, however, stressed the need for security guarantees before any talks with Russia, expressing his intentions to meet Putin only after a common plan is negotiated with Trump.
As European leaders navigate these complex dynamics, Chancellor Scholz’s strong stance against far-right extremism serves as a reaffirmation of Germany’s dedication to democratic principles and historical responsibility.