Germany warns U.S. over election-interference concerns after State Department funding plan, outlet reports

German leaders on Wednesday warned that the United States should not interfere in German elections, after an outlet reported that the Trump administration’s Department of State is developing a grants scheme aimed at supporting charities in Europe described as aligned with “Make America Great Again” politics.

The warning came as Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, responded to the reported U.S. initiative, according to The Guardian. Merz said the approach risked undermining Germany’s sovereignty and informed domestic debates about migration, censorship, and what he described as “lawfare,” the outlet reported.

The Guardian said the Department of State plan would provide grants of up to $3 million (about £2.2 million) for European charities. The report characterized the program as intended to “address sovereignty, migration, censorship and lawfare,” while also citing U.S. funding as part of a broader political and diplomatic effort toward Europe.

U.S. officials did not publicly confirm the reported program in the materials reviewed for this draft. Under those circumstances, Apex Times cannot independently verify whether the Department of State has finalized, announced, or implemented the specific grant scheme described by The Guardian.

The reported controversy adds to ongoing questions in Europe about the role of foreign governments in shaping public policy through funding and advocacy outside traditional diplomatic channels. For Germany, election interference concerns tend to center on who funds domestic organizations and whether such support could influence campaigning, media narratives, or voter decision-making.

If the initiative exists as described, its practical impact would depend on the program’s legal framework, oversight rules, and targeting. Grantmaking authorities typically require public criteria for eligibility, compliance standards, and controls intended to keep funded activities within legal limits and under domestic election and transparency laws.

The next step, based on the dispute’s timeline as reported, would be confirmation or denial of the program by the Department of State and any related details from the German government on how Berlin plans to assess foreign funding risks to election administration and democratic processes.