Rubio slams Germany's move to label opposition party as 'extremist'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday criticized Germany's intelligence agency for labeling the country's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as an "extremist" group, stating the designation was "tyranny in disguise."

Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution released a 1,000-page report on Friday that wrapped a three-year probe into the political party, and claimed that it found the party violated “fundamental principles” of its constitution, including the rule of law and human rights.

The designation will now allow authorities to exercise increased oversight and surveillance of the party's actions.

"Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition.  That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise," Rubio posted to X. "What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD—which took second in the recent election—but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes. Germany should reverse course."

The party has gained in popularity recently, and won a total of 152 parliament seats in the most recent election. 

Germany's Foreign Office responded to Rubio's criticism in a post on X, defending the probe as a means to protect its Constitution. 

"This is democracy. This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law," the foreign office said. "It is independent courts that will have the final say. We have [learned] from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped."

Vice President JD Vance also slammed Germany over the label, stating that the AfD is the most popular party in the country and most reflective of "East Germany," but is now being attacked by "bureaucrats." 

"The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt—not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment," he added.

The Trump administration has largely been supportive of the right-wing party, and President Donald Trump even invited AfD co-leader Alice Weidel to his second inauguration.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.