The AfD has submitted a proposal to Bad Durkheim’s council to confer Donald Trump honorary German citizenship, citing his role in easing the Israel‑Gaza conflict and freeing hostages.
AfD Commends Trump for Gaza Peace
The AfD praised Trump for “peace in the Gaza Strip” and said the United States former president facilitated a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza and secured the release of Israeli and German hostages.
Local AfD leader Thomas Stephan, newly elected to the Bundestag, brought the honorary citizenship idea forward. He voiced the proposal to the Bad Durkheim district council, which will decide on it at its next meeting on 29 October.
Trump’s German Roots
Donald Trump’s family originates from Kallstadt, a small wine village on the southern German Wine Route. His grandparents, Friedrich Trump and Elizabeth Christ, were born there and moved to nearby Bad Durkheim in 1902.
Friedrich Trump emigrated to the United States in 1885, changed his name to Frederick, and accumulated wealth during the Klondike gold‑rush era.
Low Odds of Acceptance
Although the AfD formally filed the request, its chances of approval are slim. County prefect Hans‑Ulrich Ihlenfeld of the CDU said he does not wish to predict the vote but does not expect the idea to receive a majority.
In his view, the council will likely reject the AfD initiative, a move that has sparked debate in Germany, with some commentators calling it a PR tactic by a party that often relies on controversial gestures to gain attention.
