Germany’s exclusive ambassador warned Trump of plans to redefine constitutional order, documents show
Authors: Sabine Siebold and Friedrich Heine
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s ambassador to the United States has warned that the incoming Trump administration will strip away the independence of U.S. law enforcement and the media and hand over “shared governance” to the United States, according to a confidential document seen by Reuters. Big tech companies.
The briefing document, dated January 14 and signed by Ambassador Andreas Michaelis, describes Donald Trump’s agenda for his second White House term as “maximum “One of the disruptions” will bring “a redefinition of the constitutional order – the greatest concentration of power.” The President did so at the expense of Congress and the states of the Union. “
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The report states: “Basic democratic principles and checks and balances will be largely undermined, the independence of legislatures, law enforcement agencies and the media will be stripped away and abused as political weapons, and large technology companies will gain the power to co-govern. “
Trump’s transition team had no immediate comment on the ambassador’s assessment.
The German Foreign Ministry said that American voters chose Trump in the democratic election and that the German Foreign Ministry would “work closely with the new US government in the interests of Germany and Europe.”
Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government has largely refrained from direct public criticism of Trump since the election, but the ambassador’s confidential assessment provides a blunt perspective from a senior German official.
Ambassadors do not automatically change with the formation of a new government unless a change is deemed necessary for diplomatic or other reasons.
The document cites the judiciary, particularly the U.S. Supreme Court, as central to Trump’s push for his agenda, but says that despite the court’s recent decision to expand presidential powers, “even the biggest critics believe it will prevent the worst from happening.” ”.
Michaelis sees control of the Justice Department and FBI as key to Trump’s political and personal goals, including mass deportations, retaliation against enemies and legal impunity.
He said Trump has a wide range of legal options to impose his agenda on states, saying “military forces could even be deployed domestically to police activities in the event of an ‘insurrection’ and an ‘invasion.'”
The Territorial Police Act of 1878 prohibited federal troops from participating in domestic law enforcement, with some exceptions.
Michaelis also foresees a “redefinition of the First Amendment,” saying Trump and billionaire X owner Elon Musk have taken action against critics and uncooperative media companies.
“One involves filing lawsuits, threatening criminal prosecution and license revocation, and the other involves manipulating algorithms and blocking accounts,” he said in the filing.
Musk’s repeated support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of national elections on February 23 has drawn the ire of Berlin, but the government has not unanimously agreed to abandon his platform.
Berlin had a particularly difficult relationship with the United States during Trump’s first administration, facing high tariffs and criticism for failing to meet NATO defense spending targets.
(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Writing by Frederick Heine; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
