Authoritarian Alliances: Analysing the Trump Administration’s Recent Far-Right Controversies
The Trump Administration’s Engagement with the AfD
At the start of President Trump’s second term, a distinct shift in international relations is becoming evident. The new administration appears resolute in its efforts to promote the adoption of regimes aligned with the MAGA ideology, characterised by reactionary cultural politics and mercantilist economic strategies (New York Magazine, 2025). Of greater concern, however, is the administration’s apparent inclination to develop alliances with far-right governments globally.
The first significant indication of this evolution occurred in December when Elon Musk, a close associate of President Trump and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), authored an op-ed in a German newspaper endorsing the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, which German intelligence has classified as extremist. The AfD has seen a substantial increase in vote share over the past decade and achieved 20.8% in the recent election, as illustrated in Figure 1. Subsequently, Musk criticised Germany’s mainstream parties on X, stating, “The traditional political parties in Germany have utterly failed the people. AfD is the only hope for Germany” (New York Magazine, 2025).
Elon Musk then made a virtual appearance at an AfD party conference, delivering encouraging remarks via a large video screen. As reported by NPR (2025), Musk emphasised the importance of Germans taking pride in their heritage, stating, “It’s good to be proud of German culture and German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything.” Additionally, in an apparent reference to the Nazi era, Musk added that there is “frankly too much of a focus on past guilt and we need to move beyond that.”
Vice President J.D. Vance reinforced this stance during a high-profile appearance at the Munich Security Conference, delivering a speech that “ignited a firestorm” (Foreign Policy, 2025). In a passionate and unconventional address, Vance asserted that “there is nothing more urgent than mass migration” and accused European leaders of suppressing free speech and engaging in censorship, including by referencing the AfD. Vance also argued that the greatest security threat facing Europe is not Russia or China, but rather the “threat from within” (Foreign Policy, 2025).
Following his provocative speech, J.D. Vance promptly met with Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the AfD and candidate for chancellor (AP News, 2025). Weidel is notably known for her controversial assertion that Adolf Hitler was not a right-wing figure, but rather a “communist” (BBC News, 2025a).
Last year, many observers warned that a second Trump administration would fundamentally alter the United States’ global posture. However, few anticipated that the U.S. government would openly align itself with a fascist political party (The New Republic, 2025).
The Elon Musk Salute Controversy
Amid the controversy surrounding recent U.S. foreign policy changes, on January 20th, Elon Musk expressed his gratitude to the audience for “making it happen.” He then placed his right hand over his heart before extending the same arm straight ahead. Musk repeated this gesture for those seated behind him, saying, “My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured,” after performing the second one-armed salute (BBC News, 2025b).
The gesture has been likened by some to a Nazi salute and produced outrage globally. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University, stated, “As a historian of fascism, I can confirm it was a Nazi salute and a very belligerent one too” (BBC News, 2025b).
Additionally, Andrea Stroppa, a confidant of Musk who has connected him with far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, reportedly posted the clip of Musk with the caption: “Roman Empire is back starting from Roman salute.” The Roman salute was widely used in Italy by Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Party before being adopted by Adolf Hitler in Germany. Stroppa later deleted his post, according to Italian media (BBC News, 2025b).
Since Musk’s salute incident, similar controversies have continued to affect U.S. politics. At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington on February 20th, right-wing podcaster and Donald Trump’s former White House strategist Steve Bannon made a similar gesture during his speech. Bannon’s gesture involved a brief extension of a stiff arm to the side, with no other apparent message (Independent, 2025). He performed this salute after emphatically urging the CPAC audience in National Harbor, Maryland, to “fight, fight, fight,” and advocated for a third term for Trump, asserting that leaders like Trump appear only twice in history (Independent, 2025).
As a consequence of the incident, French far-right leader Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen’s close associate, cancelled his speech at CPAC. Bardella cited a Nazi salute by a speaker, presumably referring to Steve Bannon, as the reason for his withdrawal, according to his National Rally (RN) party (Reuters, 2025). Bardella’s trip to the United States was supposed to underline the RN’s efforts to strengthen ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom Le Pen has had a complex relationship (Reuters, 2025).
Such incidents may signify the initial steps towards a new international security arrangement for the United States and a new direction for Trump’s America.
Bibliography
AP News. (2025). “US Vice President JD Vance meets German far-right leader as he criticizes ‘firewalls’ in Europe”. AP News. Published 14th February, 2025. Available at: US Vice President JD Vance’s office says he met German far-right leader Alice Weidel | AP News
BBC News. (2025a). “Musk interviews German far-right frontwoman”. BBC News. Published 10th January, 2025. Available at: Musk interviews German far-right frontwoman Alice Weidel – BBC News
BBC News. (2025b). “Musk responds to backlash over gesture at Trump rally”. BBC News. Published 21st January, 2025. Available at: Elon Musk responds to backlash over gesture at Donald Trump rally – BBC News
Foreign Policy. (2025). “The Speech That Stunned Europe”. Foreign Policy. Published 18th February, 2025. Available at: Vance Munich Speech: Read Full Transcript
Independent. (2025). “Did Steve Bannon flash a Nazi salute at CPAC?”. Independent. Published 22nd February, 2025. Available at: Did Steve Bannon flash a Nazi salute at CPAC? | The Independent
New York Magazine. (2025). “Is Trump Building an International Authoritarian Alliance?”. New York Magazine. Published 20th February, 2025. Available at: Is Trump Building an International Authoritarian Alliance?
NPR. (2025). “Elon Musk faces criticism for encouraging Germans to move beyond ‘past guilt’”. NPR. Published 27th January, 2025. Available at: Elon Musk urges German far-right party to overcome ‘past guilt’ : NPR
Reuters. (2025). “France’s Bardella cancels CPAC speech over Bannon ‘Nazi’ salute”. Reuters. Published 21st February, 2025. Available at: France’s Bardella cancels CPAC speech over Bannon ‘Nazi’ salute
The New Republic. (2025). “JD Vance’s Debacle in Germany Exposes MAGA’s Sinister Global Endgame”. The New Republic. Published 18th February, 2025. Available at: JD Vance’s Debacle in Germany Exposes MAGA’s Sinister Global Endgame | The New Republic
