2024-09-12 19:25:18
Germany’s foreign ministry mocked presidential candidate Donald Trump’s false claims that migrants eat pets in a post on its social media account today, Reuters reported. The German ministry also hit back at his criticism of the European country’s energy policy.
In his debate with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris yesterday, Republican Trump spread the false claim that scores of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are stealing pets or park animals to eat.
One of Harris’ suggestions was for the country to move toward a more diverse and sustainable mix of energy sources, which Trump seized on and said Germany had tried and failed to divest from fossil fuels.
“Whether you like it or not: Germany’s energy system is fully functional, with more than 50% (energy from) renewable (sources). And we’re closing—not building—coal and nuclear power plants. Coal will be phased out of the system by 2038 at the latest,” the ministry wrote in Ex. “Postscript: We also don’t eat cats and dogs. #Debate2024”.
The Economy Ministry, which is also led by the Union 90/Greens party, reposted the writing and said: “New coal-fired power plants? No way.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has not supported Harris directly, but in July he described her as a “competent and experienced politician who knows exactly what she is doing” and who has a chance to win the US presidential election, BTA writes.
Germany was often the target of Trump’s ire during his 2017-2021 presidency because of the country’s trade surplus with the US and low defense spending.
Trump has vowed to impose higher tariffs on imports if elected and to tie US support for other NATO members to a requirement that they spend an agreed 2 percent of GDP on defense.
German authorities said they expected to hit the 2% target this year.