In a stunning reversal that’s shaking Europe’s political establishment, the German domestic intelligence agency BfV has officially withdrawn its “confirmed far-right” designation of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party — Germany’s largest opposition bloc — following legal pressure, international backlash, and direct intervention from U.S. leaders.
The reversal comes hours before a pivotal call between President Donald Trump and new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and after U.S. intelligence leaders, led by Sen. Tom Cotton and DNI Tulsi Gabbard, warned that cooperation with Germany’s spy agencies could be suspended over politically weaponized surveillance.
Spy Scandal Unravels
Last week, the outgoing leftist Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had leaked a secret report to Der Spiegel labeling the AfD as “certified far-right,” giving domestic intelligence the green light to spy on its members and supporters. But the AfD was never granted access to the report, sparking outrage and a massive lawsuit against the BfV.
Now, in a dramatic concession, the agency announced:
“The defendant will not publicly describe the AfD as ‘certified far-right’ until a court decision is made in this urgent procedure.”
The press release used by Faeser to justify her actions will be scrubbed from the agency’s website, marking what free speech attorney Joachim Steinhöfel calls:
“A complete surrender by the German domestic intelligence service.”
American Pressure Saves Democracy?
Behind the scenes, U.S. pressure played a critical role in forcing Germany’s about-face.
Sen. Tom Cotton issued a fiery letter stating:
“I understand that liberal elites on both sides of the Atlantic loathe the AfD… but rather than undermining the AfD using authoritarian tools, Germany’s government might be better advised to address the reasonable concerns of its citizens.”
Germany’s intelligence services, reliant on NSA signals intelligence (SigInt) due to their own legal limitations, were suddenly staring down the real threat of isolation from U.S. intelligence sharing — a move that would paralyze their counterterror efforts.
A Blow to Political Censorship
This moment marks a resounding victory for populist movements, democratic accountability, and free speech in Western Europe — and a critical blow to the weaponization of state power against political opposition.
As Steinhöfel bluntly put it:
“A lot of heads will have to roll at the agency now.”
With Germany retreating and the U.S. showing it won’t tolerate authoritarian overreach abroad, this incident sends a loud and clear message: Democracy doesn’t die in silence — not on Trump’s watch.
