German Chancellor Condemns U.S. Vice President's Advice on Far-Right Party

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany strongly rebuked U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Saturday, accusing him of unacceptable interference in Germany's elections due to his support for the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which Scholz believes minimizes the impact of Nazi atrocities.

In a significant moment at the Munich Security Conference, Vance urged German officials to reconsider their approach to the AfD, prompting a sharp response from Scholz. The Chancellor called for a commitment to democracy that rejects any collaboration with parties that trivialize historical horrors. Scholz emphasized that the future of German democracy is for Germany alone to determine and condemned any external direction regarding the nation's political landscape. He highlighted the historical context of the AfD's positions, particularly emphasizing Nazi concentration camps, asserting the grave consequences of forgetting the past. Scholz's remarks underscore the delicate balance of international relations and domestic politics in Germany as the nation approaches critical elections.