"Trump, Once a 'President for Peace,' Now a Wartime President?"...German Far-Right Party Leader Criticizes

AfD Criticizes US Airstrikes on Iran
A Shift from Its Previously Friendly Stance
"Questions Raised Over the Surgical Warfare Approach"

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which had previously been friendly toward the Donald Trump administration, changed its stance following the US airstrikes on Iran.

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News Agency, Tino Chrupalla, co-leader of AfD, asked President Trump during an interview with ntv on the 3rd (local time), "Are you going to become a wartime president?" He continued, "President Trump started out as a president for peace. However, in the end, he will finish as a wartime president. If that is what he wants, he must explain it to voters. This is especially true if the current attack and military operations do not succeed."

He specifically mentioned that at least 165 people were killed in a bombing at an elementary school in Iran on the first day of the US and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, stating, "It is inevitable to question the so-called surgical warfare approach."

It is rare for European right-wing parties, including AfD, to criticize President Trump, as they share similar views on immigration policy and receive political support from him. In particular, AfD has boosted its approval ratings by highlighting its ties with President Trump and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, and has made efforts to build relationships with figures in the US conservative camp, including the Republican Party.

On the 1st (local time), Iranian citizens are attending a protest in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, supporting the US and Israel's airstrikes on Iran. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Initially, in a statement issued on the first day of the airstrikes, AfD called on both the US-Israel side and Iran to exercise restraint, saying, "Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, and international law must be strictly observed." However, as concerns grew that a prolonged war could trigger not only economic shocks but also a massive influx of refugees, the party appeared to shift to a more critical stance toward the US. In the interview, Co-leader Chrupalla also mentioned the sharp rise in prices due to disruptions in Middle Eastern energy supplies and the refugee issue, saying, "It will impact the German economy and the people."

Meanwhile, the German federal government, which positions itself as Israel's closest ally, effectively expressed support for regime change in Iran, stating, "The mullah regime has been a terrorist regime oppressing the Iranian people for decades." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on the 1st, "We share the US position that Iran's nuclear and ballistic weapons development must be stopped," but also voiced concerns that "this process could involve considerable risks."

Public opinion within Germany is largely opposed to the airstrikes. In a survey conducted by polling firm Forsa on the 2nd, 29% of respondents said the US and Israeli attacks were justified, while 57% said they were wrong. Only 13% supported German military intervention. German Foreign Minister Johann Badepuhl drew a line regarding military intervention in the Middle East, stating, "Germany will not participate in the attacks," and clarified, "Military defensive measures mean that the Bundeswehr would respond only in self-defense if German forces are attacked."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.