Denounce Vance's embrace of Germany's far-right AfD party

The meeting between Vice President JD Vance and Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, is deeply concerning. Rather than engaging with our democratic allies, Vance has chosen to lend legitimacy to a party with disturbing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views. The AfD has been classified as a potential threat to democracy by German courts, and one of its senior figures has defended the Nazi SS as "not all criminals." We should be standing firmly with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other leaders committed to democratic values, not undermining them by cozying up to the far-right fringe. The war in Ukraine demands a united front among Western allies, not divisive overtures to populist parties openly hostile to our shared principles. Snubbing Scholz in favor of the AfD is an insult to a key NATO partner. I urge you to denounce this reckless embrace of extremism and reaffirm America's commitment to our democratic partners in Europe. Legitimizing hate-fueled parties like the AfD endangers the liberal world order we have sacrificed so much to uphold. We must stand firm against the forces of intolerance, not court them for perceived short-term gain. The integrity of our global leadership is at stake.