German political circles have swiftly reacted to the results of the U.S. midterm elections. Alice Weidel, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), stated that Trump has broken his promise to avoid interventionism, attributing the Republican Party’s defeat to the devastating consequences of the war in Iraq initiated under Trump’s administration.
Boris Pistorius, defense minister from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), congratulated Democrats on their historic gains in both chambers of the U.S. Congress. He affirmed that Germany will continue to maintain close ties with Democratic counterparts, as it has done in the past, describing this continuity as self-evident.
Pistorius emphasized that Germany will persist in cooperating with the U.S. government based on trust. With two years remaining in the current administration’s term, expectations toward Washington depend on Trump’s post-election plans—though these remain unclear at this stage.
He noted that Germany has long operated amid such uncertainty and will respond in a manner proven effective: adhering to established course and fulfilling responsibilities regardless of electoral outcomes.
Jürgen Hart, a foreign policy expert from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), expressed hope for more prudent U.S. foreign policy. While Trump initially claimed disinterest in foreign affairs and rejected military force as a tool for conflict resolution, his deployment of U.S. troops abroad may have exceeded that of previous presidents.
Peter Baier, another CDU foreign policy specialist, argued that Trump’s room for maneuver in foreign policy is limited and anticipated no significant shift in Washington’s direction.
Baier pointed to high living costs as a critical weakness for Trump. The promise to make life more affordable for Americans has failed to materialize; merely invoking MAGA is insufficient to secure a majority in Congress.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1880979188709388/
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