Markus Frohnmaier, the front‑runner for the AfD in Baden‑Württemberg, has arranged a trip to Washington that will take place from March 2 to March 5-just three days before the state election on March 8. In a podcast with the magazine Politico, he justified the visit as a form of “active corporate diplomacy” aimed at securing employment in Baden‑Württemberg.
During his stay he will address the “Alliance of Sovereign Nations” congress, an event organized by Turning Point Action. As a partner of the AfD, the congress will feature speakers such as congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Johnson is ranked third in U.S. political hierarchy, after Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Frohnmaier explained that the United States remains the most important non‑European economic partner, with a trade volume exceeding €53 billion and an export share of 14.4 percent. He pointed out that tens of thousands of jobs in the region-especially in the automotive sector, where there are more than 315 000 direct employees and an export rate above 77 percent-depend directly on stable trans‑Atlantic relations.
He added that the lack of strong U.S. ties in the campaigns of other parties’ premier candidates is a concern. According to him, the growing anti‑American sentiment within the CDU and the Greens jeopardises these jobs. “In times of looming trade conflicts, it is my duty to pursue direct dialogue with our American partners and actively represent Baden‑Württemberg’s economic interests on the ground” he said.