Exclusive-German ambassador warns of Trump's plan to redefine constitutional order, documents show

By Sabine Siebold and Friederike Heine

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany's ambassador to the United States has warned that the incoming Trump administration will strip American lawmakers and the media of their independence and give big tech companies “the power to co-govern”, according to a secret document seen by Reuters.

The text of Jan. 14 and signed by Ambassador Andreas Michaelis, describes the agenda of Donald Trump for his second term in the White House as one of the “big disruptions” that will bring about “a redefinition of the constitutional order – a great concentration of power by the president at the expense of Congress and the states.”

“The basic principles of democracy and checks and balances will be greatly undermined, the legislature, the judiciary and the media will be deprived of their freedom and misused as a political arm, Big Tech will be given the power to rule,” he said.

Trump's transition team did not immediately comment on the envoy's investigation.

The German Foreign Ministry said that American voters elected Trump in a democratic election, and that he “will work closely with the new American administration for the benefit of Germany and Europe.”

The outgoing government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz has largely avoided criticizing Trump in public since the election, but a private embassy inspection gives a negative impression of Germany's top official.

Ambassadors are not automatically replaced with the formation of a new government, unless the change is deemed necessary for diplomatic or other reasons.

The document cites the judiciary, particularly the United States Supreme Court, as central to Trump's efforts to advance his agenda, but says that despite the court's recent decision to expand the president's powers, “even the biggest critics think it will prevent the worst from happening. .”

Michaelis sees control of the Justice Department and the FBI as key to Trump achieving his political and personal goals, including mass deportations, retaliation against perceived enemies and impunity.

He says Trump has a wide range of legal options to force his agenda on states, saying “even sending troops into the country to do police work is possible if it's declared 'treason' and 'invasion'.”

The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prohibits state troops from participating in local law enforcement, with few exceptions.

Michaelis foresees a “redefinition of the First Amendment,” saying Trump and billionaire billionaire Elon Musk are already cracking down on critics and media companies that don't hold back.

“One is using lawsuits, threatening criminal prosecution and license revocation, the other is using algorithms and banned accounts,” he said in the document.

Musk's repeated endorsements of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of the February 23 general election have raised eyebrows in Berlin, but the government has stopped short of leaving his position unanimously.

Berlin has endured a strained relationship with the United States during the Trump administration, facing high spending and criticism for its failure to meet NATO's defense spending targets.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Writing by Friederike Heine; Editing by Daniel Wallis)