What is Germany Saying about MAGA?

The Alarm Bells Are Ringing

Yesterday, I traveled to Munich and stopped at a newsstand. Trump, Musk, and dark symbolism dominated covers, depicting what might happen in the USA in 2025. I often see international news about the U.S., but this stood out. It was not just coverage. It was a warning.

The White House Snake

Yesterday, I picked up a recent edition of Der Spiegel (transl: The Mirror), one of the largest weekly news magazines in Europe. Spiegel.de (50.5%) is owned by employee shareholders to maintain journalistic control. The Augstein family, descendants of founder Rudolf Augstein, holds 24%, while Bertelsmann owns 25.5%. The magazine funds itself through subscriptions, advertising, and sales without government influence.

The cover features an artistic image of the Reichstag—Germany’s equivalent to the U.S. Capitol, with which it shares a striking resemblance—ensnared by a black snake, symbolizing a threat to democracy. Due to copyright restrictions, I can't share that image here. However, you can click the link above to view it. It looks similar to this but is much more powerful.

An article by Dirk Kurbjuweit, titled as translated, Democracy on the Defensive: Eleven Rules in the Fight Against Authoritarianism, warns of democracy’s growing vulnerability, citing how authoritarian leaders and populist movements weaken democratic institutions both internally and externally. A series of images feature Donald Trump, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, and Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s AfD, placed side-by-side alongside a discussion of the global rise of authoritarianism. The piece details how disinformation, nationalism, and media manipulation erode public trust in democratic systems. Going beyond just critique, it shares eleven strategies to defend democracy, including civic engagement, increased cybersecurity, and the regulation of misinformation. It concludes that democracy faces serious threats but remains salvageable if we act now.

‘Seductive’ Leaders

Next, I picked up Spiegel’s Geschichte (transl. History) recent edition, the cover featuring a picture of Trump speaking into a microphone that fades into an ominous black background. The headline reads, as translated, Dangerous Seducer. The word seducer in German is Verführer, undeniably calling back to the word ‘Führer,’ a term avoided in Germany due to its strong association with the Nazi regime. Beside this, surely by no accident, another story focuses on Adolf Hilter and his charismatic appeal to the populace at the time.

An article inside titled, as translated, Right-wing populists package anti-democratic ideals democratically, explicitly labels Trump an extremist. It discusses how populism has grown from communities, in sports, leisure and social media, and is now making its way to the top of political control.

Another piece in this edition examines Hitler’s use of propaganda. It explains how he repeatedly embellished his own life story until people believed it. The parallels to Trump’s self-mythologizing are hard to ignore.

Musk is Calling

The next cover that caught my eye came from brand eins, a German business magazine that covers both economic and socio-political topics. The publication was founded by Gabriele Fischer, who is also Editor-in-Chief. It was funded, at least in part, through venture capital and operates on a traditional publishing model, relying on sales and advertising.

The cover design mimics an incoming call from Elon Musk on a smartphone. A red Decline button sits on one side and a green Accept button on the other. The caption below reads, as translated, Communication in nervous times. One article presents Musk’s quotes over time to demonstrate how his public declarations began with an apolitical sentiment with a focus on humanitarianism and grew into full-blown far-right politics. This article by Mischa Tauber explicitly describes this as public evidence of his radicalization.

Populism and Power

A common theme in these articles is how money and populism fuel right-wing extremism and weaken democratic institutions. Populism thrives on public frustration and reduces complex political and economic issues to emotionally charged slogans. Populist leaders frame themselves as the voice of “the people,” often while dismantling institutions, which further erodes trust in democracy. They exploit national identity, fear of outsiders, and economic struggles to rally their base all the while actively silencing open debate and criticism.

Autocrats play a key role in this cycle, consolidating unchecked power by suppressing opposition and governing without real constraints. They make unilateral decisions without being bothered by laws, constitutions, or opposition. Some leverage populist rhetoric to justify their rule, while others use brute force to maintain control.

Ultra-wealthy leaders destabilize democracy differently but just as effectively. They use their financial power to influence public discourse, fund political movements worldwide, and constrain media narratives. Campaign donations, lobbying, and media ownership allow them to influence policies to serve their interests. Through U.S. propaganda, these oligarchs make both the people and the politicians believe in their extremism and then government decisions more easily reflect their selfish priorities. This increases distrust in democracy, reinforcing a cycle of polarization and extremism.

The U.S.’s Fascist Foundations

Germany is sounding the alarm. It warns of a democratic backslide, authoritarianism, and rising extremism. These are not abstract concerns. They follow a pattern that history has already shown. The U.S. has long had the conditions for these threats to take hold. Ignoring them means overlooking realities embedded in our past.

Fascism in the U.S. is not a sudden invasion. It has existed in various forms through slavery, Jim Crow laws, redlining, violent suppression of labor movements, McCarthyism, and the criminalization of marginalized groups. It does not always arrive with a military coup. It often creeps in through disenfranchisement, consolidation of elite power, and the erosion of democratic norms all the while presenting itself as security or fighting economic stability. Racial and economic hierarchies have historically been enforced through laws, policing, and U.S. propaganda. Then, we framed dissent as a threat to “traditional values.” Like past fascist movements, U.S. leaders have used scapegoating, fear-mongering, and manufactured crises to justify their, now ever rising, authoritarian policies.

Demand Accountability

In a previous Substack, I emphasized the immediate need to hold U.S. media accountable for normalizing extremism and failing to challenge U.S. propaganda.

Here’s how you can take action:

• Support PBS and NPR through viewership, donations, or advocacy. These independent outlets face political pressure and funding threats, including current attempts by the Trump administration to eliminate federal support.

• Diversify your news sources by reading international outlets. Many European publications offer English-language content, and translation tools can expand access. Engaging with foreign media on social platforms can also provide valuable insights.

• Highlight underreported stories by independent, reputable journalists. Comment on and share their work to amplify important issues.

By taking these steps, you create a media landscape that upholds your actual values. A well-informed public is essential to resisting populism. And if possible, speak about your efforts publicly or at least within your community.

Awareness is not enough. Action is necessary.