NPR Berlin Interviews Sudha David-Wilp on the Future Of U.S.-German Relations

The Inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States is just around the corner. It’s no secret that a majority of Germans believe his presidency will worsen the transatlantic relationship, with me is Sudha David-Wilp, senior fellow with the German Marshall Fund in Berlin.

"Sudha, we got a glimpse of what Mr. Trump’s priorities are at his press conference last week. How was it received in Germany?" I ask her.

"I am not sure we really got an idea of his priorities during the press conference," she tells me. "After listening to some of the nomination hearings, there are a lot of contradictions that are arising with what President-Elect Donald Trump has said on the campaign trail. So it still remains to be seen what actual policies will bubble up. With regard to the style of the press conference, I do believe it was quite surprising for many people, not just in Germany, but also in the United States.”

"One thing we did see: Donald Trump’s ongoing hostile relationship with the media," I add, "which is also true for Germany’s far right anti-immigrant party Alternative für Deutschland, the AfD. Just a few days ago, the AfD banned all German public broadcasters from a European right-wing parties conference that they will host. What impact will the Trump presidency have on Germany’s AfD party?"

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore