The recent imposition of U.S. sanctions against the German organization HateAid and former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton may represent a prelude to broader actions targeting European officials, according to reports based on insights from former U.S. government officials. The “Spiegel” news outlet revealed that Washington had been contemplating punitive measures against German civil servants as far back as months ago, fueled by resentment over the German domestic intelligence agency’s (Verfassungsschutz) classification of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as “reliably right-wing extremist” in May.
Sources within the Trump administration reportedly explored potential options including travel bans and financial sanctions against individuals responsible for the AfD’s designation. While the specific targets were not disclosed, the classification remains on hold pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the AfD. The move highlights the increasing tension between Washington’s perceived interventions in domestic German affairs and Berlin’s autonomy in defining extremism.
The scrutiny wasn’t limited to Germany. The “Spiegel” report claims that similar deliberations concerning sanctions occurred in relation to France. U.S. officials considered measures against judges who convicted Marine Le Pen and her political party, the Rassemblement National, for embezzlement of EU funds in the spring. The initial ruling not only imposed fines and a prison sentence but also barred Le Pen from participating in the next French presidential election. This potential intervention in the French judicial system underscores the extent of Washington’s willingness to engage in politically charged actions.
When pressed for comment, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department declined to confirm or deny the existence of such plans. Referring to a post by Senator Marco Rubio on the platform X (formerly Twitter), the spokesperson pointed to Rubio’s strong criticism of the Verfassungsschutz’s monitoring of the AfD, which he characterized as “veiled tyranny”. Rubio’s statement represents a particularly blunt American assessment of German domestic policy, raising concerns over potential political interference.
Former U.S. diplomat Tom Malinowski, currently campaigning for a seat in the House of Representatives, expressed disbelief at the prospect of sanctioning German security officials, stating such actions would be considered “crazy” within a conventional U.S. administration. However, he conceded that the recent sanctions targeting HateAid and other European NGOs “demonstrate that this government is capable of anything”. Malinowski’s assessment highlights the growing anxieties surrounding the increasingly assertive and unconventional foreign policy posture of Washington and its potential impact on the stability and sovereignty of European democracies.