Politics
Germany · Direct U.S. connection
AfD Data Leak Exposes Decade of Ties to Trump and MAGA Movement
A cyberattack on Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in September 2026 led to the online publication of over 421,000 internal emails, revealing a long-standing strategy to cultivate alliances with Donald Trump and the 'Make America Great Again' movement.
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THE PRIMARY BRIEF
- 01 · The primary finding
A data leak from Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has revealed a decade-long effort to build ties with Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, with evidence including internal emails and public statements of support.
- 02 · The primary evidence
The leak in October 2026 exposed over 421,000 emails, detailing AfD's communication with MAGA figures and Trump's public praise for the party after its strong election showing in Saxony-Anhalt.
- 03 · Why it matters
These revelations indicate a coordinated transnational effort between far-right political forces in Germany and the U.S., highlighting potential influences on political discourse and policy in both nations.
Over 421,000 internal emails from Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party were published online following a cyberattack in September 2026, detailing the party's decade-long efforts to forge connections with Donald Trump and the 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) movement. This leak, amounting to 281 gigabytes of data, includes sensitive documents such as bank statements, academic certificates, and membership records.
This trove of internal communications reveals how a prominent European far-right party has systematically sought to align itself with a powerful political movement in the United States, showing the transnational nature of these ideological currents.
What the records show
The timeline
In July 2022, AfD parliamentary leader Alice Weidel met with Steve Bannon, a former chief strategist for Donald Trump and a key figure in the MAGA movement, in Zurich. Their discussion focused on political communication and alternative media strategies.
Further high-level engagement occurred in February 2025, when then-US Vice President JD Vance met with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel. In May 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly criticized the classification of the AfD as extremist, calling it "tyranny in disguise".
What changed and for whom
Trump publicly praised the AfD in September 2026, following their strong performance in the Saxony-Anhalt state election where they secured 43.8% of the vote. Via his Truth Social platform, Trump attributed the AfD's success to public discontent with "horrible" immigration rules and regulations. He also coined the phrase "MGGA" ("Make Germany Great Again") in reference to the party. This demonstrates a perceived ideological alignment, as the AfD's advocacy for stricter immigration policies mirrors those championed by Trump.
What the subject has said publicly
Donald Trump, in September 2026, posted on Truth Social, praising the AfD's election results in Saxony-Anhalt. He wrote, "Wow! The Populist Party in Germany just had a really big night. They finally got tired of the absolutely horrible Immigration rules and regulations which have hurt Germany so badly,". He also suggested, "Maybe it's time for MGGA. Make Germany Great Again!!!".
What we could not confirm
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