Full Breakdown
Trump Praises AfD’s Saxony-Anhalt Victory, Europe Reacts
9/10/2026, 6:20:47 AM
Core Event: AfD’s Historic State-Level Surge
In the Saxony-Anhalt state election, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) secured 43.8 % of the vote, winning 39 of the 83 seats—three short of a majority. This is the strongest showing for a far-right party at the German state level since World War II.
Background & Context
The AfD, classified by Germany’s domestic intelligence as a right-wing extremist organization, runs on restrictive immigration policies and a nationalist agenda. Its vote share has risen from under 20 % in 2021 to the current near-majority, reflecting public discontent with the governing coalition’s migration stance. The Saxony-Anhalt branch is also deemed “right-wing extremist” by the state intelligence office, a label the party disputes.
Data & Statistics
- AfD: 43.8 % vote share, 39 seats.
- CDU (Friedrich Merz’s party): 17.2 % vote share.
- SPD: 9.3 %; Greens: 8.9 %; Left Party: 8.6 % (each eight seats).
These figures place the AfD ahead of the CDU for the first time in a German state election since the post-war era.
Official Statements & Responses
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the outcome “deeply shocking” and warned that the AfD’s “remigration” agenda amounts to ethnic cleansing.
AfD leader in Saxony-Anhalt Ulrich Siegmund framed the result as a “clear mandate to govern,” emphasizing immediate deportations of illegal immigrants.
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “Wow! The Populist Party in Germany just had a really big night. They finally got tired of the absolutely horrible Immigration rules and regulations which have hurt Germany so badly.”
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met AfD co-leader Alice Weidel at the 2025 Munich Security Conference and urged German parties to drop the “firewall” blocking cooperation with the AfD.
Criticism & Opposition
European leaders expressed alarm. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called the outcome a “very worrying sign,” while French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said German business leaders were “extremely concerned.”
In Germany, Dirk Wiese, SPD chief whip, called Trump’s comments “not acceptable,” and Franziska Hoppermann, CDU national general-secretary, reiterated that the AfD threatens economic stability and works closely with Russia.
On-the-Ground Reports
AfD officials have begun informal talks with other parties, including the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), to explore coalition possibilities. Deputy parliamentary leader Beatrix von Storch warned that refusing to engage with the AfD could lead to “severe chaos” and possibly a new election.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ slightly on the exact vote share—some cite “nearly 44 %,” others the precise 43.8 %. All agree the AfD fell three seats short of an absolute majority, and final seat allocations remain pending. Detailed policy implementation plans for the state government have not been disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Wow! The Populist Party in Germany just had a really big night. They finally got tired of the absolutely horrible Immigration rules and regulations which have hurt Germany so badly,” — Donald Trump, US president
- “If what is being advocated here, namely 'remigration', were to become reality, it would be nothing other than a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin color,” — Friedrich Merz
What’s Next
A scheduled phone call between Chancellor Merz and President Trump, intended to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, was postponed on September 11 with a new date not yet set. Upcoming state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern later this month will test whether the AfD’s surge in Saxony-Anhalt is an isolated event or a broader shift in German politics.
