A leaked diplomatic report from the German Ambassador in Washington, Andreas Michaelis, has caused a stir in the relationship between the German government and the US administration. The report, which was meant to be confidential, warns of a potential second term for US President Donald Trump and describes his strategy as one of “maximum disruption, the breaking of established political orders and bureaucratic structures”.
According to the report, Trump’s “revenge plans” could lead to a redefinition of the constitutional order, with the possibility of criminal proceedings against political opponents, which could be devastating for those affected. The report also suggests that the media, civil society, and Democrats are preparing to resist Trump’s attacks, but that the professional legal planning of the Trump administration could make it difficult to quickly stop his measures in court.
The German Ambassador’s comments have sparked criticism from Trump’s supporters, with former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon calling for the diplomat’s dismissal. However, the German government has not taken any action, with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stating that the report’s content is accurate and that the leak is the real issue, not the content of the report.
The leak of the report, which was sent to the Bild newspaper and the Reuters news agency, has raised questions about the involvement of the German government in the leak. CDU leader Friedrich Merz suspects that the report was intentionally made public, while Jens Spahn, a member of the Union’s parliamentary group, has criticized the report’s content, saying it will harm German and European interests.