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AP Interview: German nationalists inspired by Trump campaign

Associated Press
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In this Tuesday, May 7, 2019 photo Alice Weidel, co-faction leader of the Alternative for Germany party (AfD) at the German federal parliament, Bundestag, attends an AP interview in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

FILE-In this Nov. 21, 2018 file photo Alice Weidel, co-faction leader of the Alternative for Germany party, delivers a speech during the budget debate of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

The co-leader of the Alternative for Germany party says Europe's new right could take a page out of U.S. President Donald Trump's populist playbook when it comes to mobilizing support ahead of this month's European elections.

In an interview, Alice Weidel told The Associated Press that "you can learn a lot from Trump's election campaign, including in terms of mobilizing people and issues."

Weidel's party has invited former White House strategist Steve Bannon to an event Saturday in Berlin with bloggers who have backed the party, though it's unclear if he is attending.

Weidel said it's "existentially important" for parties like Alternative for Germany to create a footprint in the media that reflects its opposition to mass migration, the shared euro currency and the ever-closer political cooperation sought by the European Union.