‘We don’t eat cats and dogs,’ the German foreign ministry told Trump

In a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday, Germany’s foreign ministry responded to US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s criticism of German energy policy by making fun of his untrue claim that immigrants devour dogs.

During Tuesday’s debate with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump exaggerated a bogus accusation that a large number of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were robbing people of their dogs or snatching wildlife from parks to feed them.

Additionally, he criticized Harris’ attempt to steer the nation toward what she claims will be a more sustainable and varied combination of energy sources, pointing out that Germany had attempted and failed to give up fossil fuels.

Whether you like it or not, Germany has a fully functional energy system that uses more than 50% renewable energy. Furthermore, nuclear and coal reactors are being closed down, not constructed. In a post on X, the previous Twitter platform, the foreign ministry declared that coal would be removed from the grid by 2038 at the latest.

“PS: We also don’t eat cats and dogs. #Debate2024”

The Tweet was retweeted by the Greens-run Economy Ministry, which stated: “New coal-fired power plants? Not at all!”

While not officially endorsing Harris, Chancellor Olaf Scholz did commend her in July, calling her a “competent and experienced politician who knows exactly what she is doing” and someone who has a good chance of winning the US election.

Trump frequently vented his frustrations at Germany throughout his 2017–21 presidency because of the country’s low defense spending and trade surplus with the United States.

If elected, Trump promises to raise import duties and to withhold American help for NATO allies unless they dedicate the agreed-upon 2% of their GDP to defense. According to German officials, they anticipate meeting the 2% goal this year.