By Sabine Siebold and Friederike Heine
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s ambassador to the USA has warned that the incoming Trump administration will rob U.S. legislation enforcement and the media of their independence and hand large tech firms “co-governing power”, in line with a confidential doc seen by Reuters.
The briefing doc, dated Jan. 14 and signed by Ambassador Andreas Michaelis, describes Donald Trump’s agenda for his second White Home time period as one in every of “maximum disruption” that may result in “a redefinition of the constitutional order – maximum concentration of power with the president at the expense of Congress and the federal states.”
“Basic democratic principles and checks and balances will be largely undermined, the legislature, law enforcement and media will be robbed of their independence and misused as a political arm, Big Tech will be given co-governing power,” it says.
Trump’s transition crew had no quick touch upon the ambassador’s evaluation.
The German international ministry mentioned U.S. voters selected Trump in a democratic election, and it could “work closely with the new U.S. administration in the interests of Germany and Europe.”
The outgoing authorities of Chancellor Olaf Scholz has largely avoided direct public criticism of Trump because the election, however the ambassador’s confidential evaluation gives a blunt view from a senior German official.
Ambassadors will not be changed mechanically with the formation of a brand new authorities, except a change is deemed obligatory for diplomatic or different causes.
The doc cites the judiciary, and particularly the U.S. Supreme Court docket, as central to Trump’s makes an attempt to additional his agenda, however says that regardless of the courtroom’s current choice to develop presidential powers, “even the biggest critics assume that it will prevent the worst from happening.”
Michaelis sees management of the Justice Division and FBI as key to Trump reaching his political and private objectives, together with mass deportations, retribution in opposition to perceived enemies and authorized impunity.
He says Trump has broad authorized choices to drive his agenda on the states, saying “even military deployment within the country for police activities would be possible in the event of declared ‘insurrection’ and ‘invasion’.”
The 1878 Posse Comitatus Act bars the federal army from collaborating in home legislation enforcement, with some exceptions.
Michaelis additionally foresees a “redefinition of the First Amendment,” saying Trump and billionaire X proprietor Elon Musk are already taking actions in opposition to critics and non-cooperating media firms.
“One is using lawsuits, threatening criminal prosecution and licence revocation, the other is having algorithms manipulated and accounts blocked,” he says within the doc.
Musk’s repeated endorsement of the far-right Different for Germany (AfD) forward of the Feb. 23 nationwide election has drawn ire in Berlin, however the authorities has stopped wanting unanimously leaving his platform.
Berlin endured a very tough relationship with the USA through the first Trump administration, dealing with expensive tariffs and criticism over its failure to fulfill the NATO goal on defence expenditure.
