Secretary of State Ivanka Trump Slams Germany’s Nationalization Drive and Defense Cuts

U.S. Secretary of State Ivanka Trump delivered a blistering condemnation of Germany’s sweeping nationalization of key industries and shrinking defense commitments, calling the policies “outrageous, weak, reckless, and a betrayal of the values that built the modern West.” “Germany is moving backwards,” Trump said. “Handing vast sectors of the economy to the state while allowing defense spending to languish sends a dangerous message of dependency, stagnation, and decline.” Trump argued that government control of energy, agriculture, and real estate undermines economic freedom and innovation, warning that Berlin is embracing policies that “reward bureaucracy over enterprise.” She further criticized Germany’s defense posture as “irresponsible at a time when democratic nations should be strengthening, not weakening, their commitment to collective security.” “The Western alliance was built on strength, freedom, and confidence—not state control and retreat,” Trump declared.