The German campaign saw interference from officials of the Trump administration, which upset some left-leaning voters but pleased those supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), as revealed in interviews at polling stations. In Dresden, several voters recalled Vice President JD Vance’s speech at Munich Security Conference, where he urged European leaders to embrace parties deemed “extreme.” Chris Buschmann, a left-leaning individual who declined to disclose his vote, expressed anxiety about the rise of right-wing populism globally, fearing a repeat of Germany’s Nazi history. Tim Adams, an engineer who voted for the Green Party and the German left party Die Linke, criticized billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk for endorsing the AfD and praising its co-chair, Alice Weidel. Mr. Adams, along with others who voiced support for President Trump and his administration, welcomed the new American president as a positive influence. In Aschaffenburg, retiree Peter Kraus, who voted for the AfD, expressed enthusiasm about the support from Mr. Vance and Mr. Musk, stating that their opinion aligned with his own.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/23/world/europe/trump-us-germany-election.html