In a recent interview, Höcke claimed that Western Germans have been assimilated by American culture, contrasting this with the situation in the East. In response, Federal Party Chairman Tino Chrupalla emphasized the AfD’s identity as a national party, urging unity. Other party officials echoed this sentiment, with Federal Chairwoman Alice Weidel noting Höcke’s upbringing in Rhineland-Palatinate. Defense politician Rüdiger Lucassen criticized Höcke’s language as reminiscent of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) of East Germany, highlighting a faction within the AfD that is particularly critical of Höcke’s views. This discussion was broadcast on Deutschlandfunk on June 10, 2026.