Rubio Criticizes Germany's Extremist Label on AfD Party

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sharply criticized Germany for designating the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as an extremist organization, arguing it undermines democratic principles by expanding domestic intelligence powers to surveil political opposition. Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution finalized the classification after a multi-year investigation, citing the AfD's anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric as threats to constitutional order and human dignity. Rubio, along with some Trump administration allies such as Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, contends that the real threat comes from Germany's open-border immigration policies rather than the AfD, which recently achieved significant electoral success. The AfD has vowed to challenge the designation in court, claiming it interferes with democratic processes, while German authorities insist the party's exclusionary views justify the action. This move has heightened tensions between Washington and Berlin, with U.S. officials expressing concern over political expression and surveillance in Germany. The controversy arrives as Germany prepares for a new conservative-led government to take office.