‘Disturbing and pathetic’: German politicians slam Audi CEO’s appearance at Trump rally

Key Points:

• German politicians have criticized Audi CEO Gernot Döllner for appearing with U.S. President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, condemning the move as inappropriate and damaging to German industry.
• Isabel Cademartori, a Social Democratic Party lawmaker, called Döllner's participation a "new low" for Volkswagen Group, accusing Audi of supporting Trump's trade war strategy that harms European jobs.
• Trump announced at the rally that Audi will invest about $4 billion to build a new factory in the U.S., marking Audi's first car production on American soil, with Döllner publicly thanking Trump.
• Critics, including MEP Dennis Radtke and IG Metall union leader Christiane Benner, denounced Döllner's actions as politically unacceptable and a violation of Audi's internal policy of political neutrality before elections.
• The controversy arises amid Volkswagen's ongoing crisis in Germany, involving restructuring, factory closures, and mass layoffs, intensifying concerns about the company's direction and political engagements.