German president says US is destroying world order

[highplainsdem]

Source: Reuters

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticised U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump and urged the world not to let the world order disintegrate into a "den of robbers" where the unscrupulous take what they want.

In unusually strong remarks, which appeared to refer to actions such as the ousting of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro at the weekend, the former foreign minister said global democracy was being attacked as never before.

Although the German president's role is largely ceremonial, his words carry some weight and he has more freedom to express views than politicians.

Describing Russia's annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a watershed, Steinmeier said the U.S. behaviour represented a second historic rupture.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/german-president-says-us-is-destroying-world-order-2026-01-08/

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The article also mentions a new poll in Germany showing only 15% of Germans feel they can trust the US, compared to roughly 3/4 who feel they can trust France and the UK.

[Irish_Dem]

1. Hey Europe, YOU ARE LETTING THIS HAPPEN AND DOING NOTHING.

Do something or shut up.

[Fords Crackpipe]

6. The countries being threatened with INVASION by the man your country elected do no give a fuck about your semantics

The US not only has the worlds largest armed forces - but the highest gun ownership among private citizens as well (you know, that so-called well-regulated militia stuff)

In other worlds only Americans control what happens in their own country.

AMERICANS OWN THIS. PERIOD.

[Irish_Dem]

7. Europe sat on their damn hands when Putin invaded Ukraine.

Sat back and let the US worry about it.
Biden had to twist arms to get France and Germany off their asses.
Because Europe had so many sweetheart deals with Putin and didn't want to upset him.
They were willing to hand Ukraine to Putin.

Europe lives the good life because the US bailed them out of two wars.
And rebuilt their countries at huge US taxpayer expense.
US troops provide Europe's national security while Europeans live
a life Americans can only dream about. They have education, vacations, healthcare, etc.

Europe is an enabler and needs to be called out.

Now they reap the results of their bad behavior.

[Aussie105]

16. Think again.

The title of the world's largest armed forces goes to China.

[Tree Lady]

21. Well I am sure they felt that way

Being killed in WW2 for years before US finally decided to help. It’s not so easy to enter the fray.

[BlueKota]

2. They need to find a way to hurt the billionaire backers

of tsf. Start freezing their assets and shuttering their business overseas, until their bought and paid for lackeys in Congess and the Courts agree to hold tsf and his minions legally responsible for all their crimes.

It's always about the money.

[GB_RN]

3. No, The US IS NOT Destroying The World Order.

In fact, most of America did NOT vote for any of this (meaning those of us who actually voted against Cantaloupe Caligula the Corpulent and those who, for whatever reason, did not vote). Cantaloupe Caligula the Corpulent and his billionaire, KKKristian Nazi-onalist enablers are the ones responsible.

[maxsolomon]

12. You're splitting hairs.

Trump is President and sets US Policy. "The US" means the Trump Administration.

[Aussie105]

17. A country collectively wears the consequences of its leader's actions.

Israel gets the collective blame for what its leader does, despite many Israelis not agreeing with him.

Same for Germany in WW2, Japan in WW2, etc.

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. We are now the Fourth Reich

[otchmoson]

5. Hey world,

Tell your leaders to
(1) stop purchasing U.S. treasuries
(2) sell the U.S.treasuries they DO own
(3) rid yourself of U.S. military bases within a quick time frame, appropriating anything "left behind" when the "time's up"
(4) buy whatever oil you can from sellers who use other than U.S. dollars for settlement
(5) boycott as many U.S.-based businesses as you can (look at Canada for a roadmap)

[Aussie105]

18. Yes. There are many ways for the rest of the world to induce some

scrotum shrinkage in America.

American exceptionalism and arrogance as shown by Trump really needs the cold spoon treatment!
(Medical term describing how to treat an inappropriate erection.)

[erronis]

8. Thanks for this article. And congrats on 60,000 posts!

[highplainsdem]

19. Thanks! This wasn't quite 60,000 when I posted it - I posted a milestone message

a bit later

https://democraticunderground.com/100220921565

but I nearly waited and made this the 60,000th post. I'm German-American - my grandfather came over from Germany around 1910, when he was a teenager - and his sons-in-law fought against Germany in WWII, one of them a pilot who spent time in a German POW camp after his bomber was shot down. I've admired how Germany recovered from the insanity of the Third Reich.

I never thought I'd see the day when Germany's president could say something like this about the US government, and be completely correct.

Damn Trump...

[progressoid]

9. 60,000!

[highplainsdem]

20. Thank you!

As I said above, I did post an OP that was exactly the 60,000th:

https://democraticunderground.com/100220921565

[progressoid]

10. I showed this to a Trumper.

Last edited Thu Jan 8, 2026, 10:25 PM - Edit history (1)

From the Pew Trust.
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/06/11/us-image-declines-in-many-nations-amid-low-confidence-in-trump/
He said, "look, it's going up!"
Apparently, he was unable to see the Obama or Biden years.

?resize=1024,685

[bluestarone]

11. Ironic huh?

Germany has to warn America about this. Some Americans are BRAIN DEAD!

[EllieBC]

13. Other countries, including my second home, need

to stop pearl clutching and start preparing. This is not politics as usual. This isn’t something anyone can write strongly worded statements over and hope that will change things.

This is an amoral narcissistic man in charge of the strongest military with the most toys backed by sociopaths (Miller and Vance).

Stop expressing dismay and disappointment. DO SOMETHING.

[wiggs]

14. Correct. This intent was written about during TSF's first term (Abramson) and all but ignored. nt

[Aussie105]

15. Stating the obvious, Herr Steinmeier!

Questions should be why, is it deliberate or just incompetence, and what to do about it.

Feel free to send some well equipped soldiers to Greenland and station them on the coastline.
And ask other NATO countries to do the same.

Some big signs on the shores might help. "US not welcome here!", "Trespassers will be shot on sight!" level.