A close confidant to US President Donald Trump wants authorities to cancel the visa of a Washington reporter for Germany’s public broadcaster over comments they made about the killing of Charlie Kirk, a prominent pro-Trump activist.
Richard Grenell, a former US ambassador to Berlin and now Trump’s envoy for special missions, has publicly called for the visa of Elmar Theveßen, Washington bureau chief for Germany’s public broadcaster ZDF, to be revoked.
The comments came after Grenell circulated a podcast clip in which Theveßen linked the views of Trump aide Stephen Miller to ideas that “to some extent come from the ideology of the Third Reich”.
Grenell, who has a track record of lashing out against journalists, branded Theveßen as “left-wing radical” and “agitator”, accusing him of calling for violence. “There is no place for such agitators in America,” Grenell declared on social media.
“His visa should be revoked,” Grenell posted.
Theveßen had earlier drawn the ire of Trump allies for remarks about Kirk, who was shot dead this month at a rally in Utah, sparking an outcry by his supporters against what they saw as an attack from left-wing forces.
Right-wing politicians and hard-right influencers in the US have since begun naming and shaming Kirk’s detractors. Some US Republicans close to Trump have proposed deporting Kirk’s critics from the United States, suing them into penury or banning them from social media for life.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called for foreign nationals living in the US who “glorify violence and hatred” in connection with Kirk’s death to be targeted. Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth instructed members of the military to report such statements by colleagues.
According to Reuters, at least 15 people – among them journalists, academics and teachers – have been fired or suspended after posting critical comments online.
In Europe, Kirk’s assassination has divided politicians, including MEPs who were debating last week whether to honour him with a moment of silence in the European Parliament.
(jp)
