{"url":"https://www.ft.com/content/9d5abad5-df48-4e56-908a-1a7e38bb182e","title":"Germany’s far-right AfD distances itself from Donald Trump over Iran war","domain":"ft.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/109629/pexels-photo-109629.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","category":"World","language":"en","slug":"e1f1778e","id":"e1f1778e-f463-4906-b8eb-e0ce3b43ee3d","description":"Germany's AfD distances from Trump amid Iran war backlash.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Germany's AfD distances from Trump amid Iran war backlash.\n- Party tells members to scale back US visits as strikes unpopular.\n- Move aims to protect voter support before eastern elections.\n\n## The story at a glance\nGermany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party leadership is instructing members to reduce high-profile US visits due to Donald Trump's unpopular strikes on Iran. The war has turned public opinion against the US president, prompting AfD to prioritize domestic appeal ahead of key state elections. AfD previously cultivated ties with Trump's administration and MAGA figures.\n\n## Key moments & milestones\n- AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla condemns US strikes, saying Trump risks becoming a \"president of war.\"\n- Party leadership directs MPs to limit Washington trips amid falling German views of US trustworthiness.\n- AfD warns of Middle East destabilization not in Germany's interest.\n- Calls grow for US troop withdrawal from Germany, echoing party manifesto.\n\n## Signature highlights\n- Strikes on Iran deeply unpopular; only 15% of Germans see US as trustworthy partner.[[1]](https://www.politico.eu/article/afd-leaders-want-to-keep-distance-from-unpopular-trump-before-key-eastern-elections)[[2]](https://www.ft.com/content/9d5abad5-df48-4e56-908a-1a7e38bb182e?syn-25a6b1a6=1)\n- AfD rank-and-file maintains MAGA contacts, but leaders prioritize elections.[[1]](https://www.politico.eu/article/afd-leaders-want-to-keep-distance-from-unpopular-trump-before-key-eastern-elections)\n- Chrupalla praises Spain for blocking US bases in Iran conflict.[[3]](https://www.newsweek.com/germanys-far-right-us-troops-leave-country-11754793)\n- Party sees Trump association as liability with 71% of Germans viewing him as opponent.[[4]](https://www.reuters.com/world/europes-far-right-populists-distance-themselves-trump-over-greenland-2026-01-21)\n\n## Key quotes\n- \"Trump started as a president of peace but risked becoming a president of war,\" says AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla.[[5]](https://spectator.com/article/why-the-afd-has-fallen-out-of-love-with-trump)\n- \"Renewed destabilisation of the Middle East,\" warns AfD on strikes.[[1]](https://www.politico.eu/article/afd-leaders-want-to-keep-distance-from-unpopular-trump-before-key-eastern-elections)\n\n## Why it matters\nThe Iran war exposes tensions in transatlantic far-right alliances, as European nationalists prioritize local anti-intervention sentiment over ideological kinship with Trump. AfD voters and leaders face pressure to reject US strikes, boosting party's poll leads but risking isolation from MAGA support. Watch AfD performance in upcoming eastern German state elections and any further US troop withdrawal demands.","hashtags":["#germany","#afd","#trump","#iran","#politics","#europe"],"viewCount":3,"publishedAt":"2026-04-04T16:46:04.384Z"}