Höcke’s statements, made in an interview with Weltwoche, included claims that Eastern Germans retain a more authentic German identity compared to their Western counterparts, whom he described as having developed a ‘replacement identity.’ This has drawn criticism from various AfD officials, including party co-chair Tino Chrupalla, who cautioned against internal divisions, and Rüdiger Lucassen, who condemned Höcke’s rhetoric as reminiscent of the former East German regime. The discourse reflects ongoing tensions within the AfD regarding national identity and cultural alignment.