Trump celebrates AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt state election

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, celebrated this Tuesday (8) the victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, in eastern Germany. The far-right party received around 44% of the vote.

Sunday's victory (6) was the first for a far-right party in a state election in Germany since the end of the Second World War. Trump attributed the result to the country's immigration rules.

"They have finally had enough of the absolutely horrible immigration rules and regulations that have hurt Germany so much. THEY ARE ON THE RISE and they are not going to stand for it anymore! MGGA!!!," Trump wrote on social media.

👉 The acronym "MGGA" used by the president stands for "Make Germany Great Again", an adaptation of Trump's political slogan, "Make America Great Again" (MAGA).

Victory at the polls, however, does not guarantee the AfD control of the state government. The party still depends on the composition of Parliament to know whether it will have a sufficient majority to govern.

The result also represents a setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative coalition that governs Germany. Merz's CDU was well behind the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt.

Merz and Trump exchanged criticism in April. The fight began after the German Chancellor stated that the US was being "humiliated" in the war against Iran. The crisis resulted in the withdrawal of part of the US troops from Germany.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, on August 6, 2026 — Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

What the AfD stands for

Immigration is at the heart of the AfD's proposals.

The party defends stricter rules for the entry and stay of foreigners in Germany, in addition to the expansion of deportations and the adoption of a "remigration" policy, a term used by the party to defend the return of immigrants to their countries of origin.

The acronym also proposes changes to integration policies and tougher measures for those requesting asylum.

In education, the AfD advocates changes to school attendance rules and the possibility of home teaching. The party also proposes separating refugee children into specific classes and changing the content of schools, with greater emphasis on German identity and culture.

In the energy area, the party wants to reverse part of the climate policy adopted by the country, expand the use of fossil fuels and resume nuclear energy. The party also proposes to reduce the role of public broadcasters and restrict their operations to a service considered basic.

In foreign policy, the AfD advocates rapprochement with Russia, the end of sanctions against Moscow and the reduction of German support for Ukraine. The party is also critical of the European Union and wants to return part of the powers currently concentrated in the bloc to member countries.

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