In recent discussions among influential Twitter personalities, a striking observation was made about the perceptions of Kamala Harris’s potential to win the U.S. presidency among Germans. A recent poll conducted by ZDF’s Politbarometer revealed that a vast majority of Germans—approximately 79%—expressed support for Harris if they had the opportunity to vote, contrasting starkly with the 13% who would choose Donald Trump. Historical context reveals that this trend isn’t new; during Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, he garnered 71% support among Germans, while Hillary Clinton enjoyed an even higher backing of 82% in 2016. This polling data indicates a persistent favorability toward Democratic candidates within the German populace, cutting across various political affiliations. Notably, Green party supporters displayed overwhelming support for Harris, with figures reaching as high as 99%. Only Alternative für Deutschland voters exhibited a narrow preference for Trump, illustrating how entrenched the anti-Trump sentiment is across the political spectrum in Germany.
While one might argue that national interests could shape these views, the reality is more complex. A Harris administration may not necessarily align with German interests—evidenced by the Biden administration’s role in the Ukrainian war and the Nord Stream incident, both of which had severe implications for Germany. The crux of the German belief in Harris’s electability seems to stem from a lack of nuanced understanding of American politics among the German public. Many Germans consume information primarily through their national media, which has a limited engagement with English-language sources that could provide a more balanced view of Trump and his administration.
The landscape of German media significantly influences public opinion, particularly regarding Trump. Germany has created a robust media framework that interacts closely with government narratives, akin to a ‘state-adjacent’ system in the U.S. research points to a significantly adversarial stance of German media towards Trump, as well as a historical bias favoring Democratic candidates. A survey analyzing the media’s coverage of Trump during his first 100 days in office revealed staggering levels of negativity—ARD, the oldest public media broadcaster in Germany, directed 98% of its Trump-related stories in a negative light. Such polarization not only impacts individual perspectives but also shapes collective national sentiment toward U.S. political figures.
The broader media environment in Germany is markedly one-sided; the press has consistently portrayed Democratic candidates as competent and visionary while characterizing Republican candidates as inept and dangerous. Trump’s presidency only exacerbated the existing media bias, fueling heightened hysteria surrounding his policies and personal conduct. Reports from a study at Harvard University indicate that major outlets like BBC and Financial Times also leaned negative, but ARD’s stark 98% negative portrayal of Trump demonstrated an extreme deviation from even American media channels known for their critical stance. This lack of diverse media representation reinforces a narrow understanding of U.S. politics among the German electorate.
Compounding this issue is the absence of significant opposition media in Germany to provide an alternative perspective. While a few outlets attempt to present a more favorable view of Trump—such as Junge Freiheit, which has a very limited reach—the overwhelming narrative in mainstream media is dominated by anti-Trump sentiment. Consequently, Germans are exposed predominantly to a monolithic viewpoint that not only caricatures Trump but also dismisses any legitimate support he may still have in the U.S. Thus, the lack of critical engagement with a range of political discourse inhibits the emergence of a more balanced public perception of American politics.
In conclusion, the pronounced admiration for Kamala Harris among Germans aligns with a long-standing trend of favorable views towards Democratic candidates, which is further deepened by the highly critical nature of German media coverage of Trump. The stark polarization in media representation, combined with a lack of direct engagement with American political discourse, suggests that many Germans may be operating with a skewed understanding of U.S. electoral dynamics. As a result, this leads to a persistent optimism about Harris’s prospects, despite the complexity of international relations and American electoral realities that may not favor her administration’s alignment with German interests. The situation serves as a cautionary tale of how media narratives can shape public opinion, illustrating the significant influence of local media on international perspectives.