Germany Designates AfD as Extremist amid US Criticism

A political dispute has erupted between U.S. officials and the German government after Germany's domestic intelligence agency classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as an extremist organization, granting authorities enhanced surveillance powers. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the move as undemocratic, with Rubio calling it 'tyranny in disguise' and both alleging it targets a popular opposition party that placed second in recent federal elections. The German Foreign Ministry directly responded, defending the decision as the result of an independent investigation aimed at protecting constitutional order and citing the AfD's ethnic-based ideology as incompatible with democratic values. German officials emphasized their historical responsibility to counter right-wing extremism, while AfD leaders denounced the classification as politically motivated. The controversy highlights divergent perspectives on democracy, free speech, and the handling of far-right movements between Germany and prominent U.S. conservatives. The incident also underscores broader European concerns about the rise of populist and far-right parties.