![[Translate to English:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/8/csm_Podiumsdiskussion_USA_Header_IF_2025_24606eb21f.jpg "[Translate to English:]")
In the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory, former Volkswagen CEO Dr. Herbert Diess, ZDF political expert Theo Koll, and Jeffrey Rathke, President of the American-German Institute in Washington, discussed the consequences for international relations. Summing up the situation, Koll used the succinct metaphor that Germans must now take off the Goretex jackets that have kept them “warm and toasty inside” since 1989, while all of the important things have been going on outside. According to Koll, the comfortable phase of the country’s post-reunification period is now well and truly over.
Diess stressed that there is scope for opportunity amid this era of dramatic change. He highlighted the negotiating power that Europe’s 450 million consumers give the region, and called for direct talks with President-elect Trump, who he said has an extremely mercantile view of the world. Koll was considerably more critical about the prospect of “Trump 2.0”, saying that he will act in a far stronger and more unfettered way than he did during his first term, and pointing out that Germans have not yet mentally adjusted to this oft-cited era of epochal change. He added that the next German government faces major challenges in light of Russia’s dramatic rearmament, and that this must trigger this critical mental shift – and quickly.
Rathke added to these perspectives by providing his own view from Washington, warning especially that Ukraine will become isolated if Europe fails to act decisively. He does not expect any resistance to Trump’s future agenda from within Congress and reported that the Trump camp are monitoring German policy very closely. They are particularly critical about the EUR 4 billion cut in Ukraine aid. Rathke believes that ending the war is simply a matter of price, yet this price could be affordable compared to the cost that would be incurred by allowing Russia a direct border with the EU.
All three experts agreed on one point: Europe can only successfully represent its own interests by working together. Uncoordinated, unilateral action will give Europe no chance. To return to Koll’s earlier image, the age of the comfortable Goretex jacket is definitely over. Germany and Europe need to prepare for tougher times.
Interview with Dr. Herbert Diess
Dr. Herbert Diess outlines the opportunities and risks he sees for German-American economic relations after the US presidential election, how the EU needs to adjust its economic policy, and where we can take our lead from the USA.
We use our YouTube video channel to display the videos. The individual videos are embedded directly into our website using so-called "iFrame technology", but are only activated when you click the "Play" button.We embedded the YouTube videos in "data protection mode", so that, according to YouTube, only a technically necessary cookie is processed. Irrespective of this, the IP address used when visiting the site is transmitted to YouTube (Google) and, to our knowledge, also to the USA.If you are logged in to a Google service while viewing our videos (logged in ) are, Google can assign the viewing of the video and actions such as pausing, rewinding and fast-forwarding to your profile on Google. You can avoid this by logging out of Google services beforehand and deleting the relevant cookies.
Play video
Interview with Theo Koll
Theo Koll explains the fundamental changes he expects in US foreign policy and how the new US presidency could affect the political dynamic within Europe.
We use our YouTube video channel to display the videos. The individual videos are embedded directly into our website using so-called "iFrame technology", but are only activated when you click the "Play" button.We embedded the YouTube videos in "data protection mode", so that, according to YouTube, only a technically necessary cookie is processed. Irrespective of this, the IP address used when visiting the site is transmitted to YouTube (Google) and, to our knowledge, also to the USA.If you are logged in to a Google service while viewing our videos (logged in ) are, Google can assign the viewing of the video and actions such as pausing, rewinding and fast-forwarding to your profile on Google. You can avoid this by logging out of Google services beforehand and deleting the relevant cookies.
Play video
Interview with Jeffrey Rathke
Jeffrey Rathke discusses how he believes this US election will affect transatlantic relations compared to previous elections, and how the concept of the USA’s global leadership role could change under the new presidency.
We use our YouTube video channel to display the videos. The individual videos are embedded directly into our website using so-called "iFrame technology", but are only activated when you click the "Play" button.We embedded the YouTube videos in "data protection mode", so that, according to YouTube, only a technically necessary cookie is processed. Irrespective of this, the IP address used when visiting the site is transmitted to YouTube (Google) and, to our knowledge, also to the USA.If you are logged in to a Google service while viewing our videos (logged in ) are, Google can assign the viewing of the video and actions such as pausing, rewinding and fast-forwarding to your profile on Google. You can avoid this by logging out of Google services beforehand and deleting the relevant cookies.
Play video