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Donald Trump’s return to the White House has Germany’s diplomatic corps bracing for what it sees as a deliberate dismantling of United States democratic norms.
A confidential memorandum written by Andreas Michaelis, Germany’s ambassador to the U.S., warns of an agenda of “maximum disruption” that could redefine the American constitutional order.
The document, obtained by Reuters and addressed to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, outlines stark concerns about the erosion of democratic norms under Trump’s second administration.
Michaelis describes Trump’s vision as one focused on the “maximum concentration of power with the president at the expense of Congress and the [U.S.] states.” According to the document, key democratic institutions, including the legislature, law enforcement and the media, risk an erosion of their independence and could be “misused as a political arm.”
The memo also highlights the involvement of Big Tech companies, which Michaelis claims could be granted “co-governing power.”
Publicly, Germany’s foreign ministry has taken a cautious tone, acknowledging the democratic choice of U.S. voters and expressing a willingness to work with the Trump government. The ministry hasn’t responded to a request from POLITICO for comment on the leaked memorandum.
“We will work closely with the new U.S. administration in the interests of Germany and Europe,” the ministry said in a statement to Reuters.
The ambassador’s internal assessment is far more critical. A lingering unease within Berlin about the broader implications of Trump’s domestic policies could signal a turbulent beginning for U.S.-German relations under the interim government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats and Baerbock’s Green Party.
This unease is not new — Trump’s first term saw contentious disputes over trade tariffs and Germany’s failure to meet NATO targets for defense spending. The warning from Michaelis suggests the stakes are now even higher.
The briefing memo underscores Trump’s reliance on the judiciary to advance his goals. Michaelis notes that the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions to expand presidential powers could enable Trump to bypass traditional checks and balances.
However, the ambassador offers a glimmer of reassurance, stating that “even the biggest critics assume that [the Supreme Court] will prevent the worst from happening.”
The document further raises concerns about Trump’s ability to exploit legal loopholes for political ends. These include potentially using the military domestically in cases of “insurrection” or “invasion,” an act that could test the boundaries of the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which generally bars military involvement in law enforcement.
Michaelis also highlights Trump’s apparent alignment with tech billionaire Elon Musk as a potential risk to media independence. Trump has employed tactics like “lawsuits, threatening criminal prosecution, and license revocation” against critics, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Musk is accused of manipulating algorithms and blocking accounts critical of his platform. The ambassador warns of a “redefinition of the First Amendment,” suggesting a troubling merger of political and technological influence.
Musk’s behavior has already caused unease in Berlin. His public endorsements of the far-right Alternative for Germany party ahead of Germany’s election next month have raised fears of foreign interference. While individual agencies — like the ministry of defense — have left Musk’s platform, the German government remains active on X.
