Politics · Germany · 9 hrs ago
Historian says far-right figures use religious imagery to frame political enemies
Historian Volker Weiß says some international right-wing figures use the Antichrist to define political enemies.
The discussion involves Germany’s AfD politician Maximilian Krah and US President Donald Trump.
Krah has described Trump as the biblical “restrainer,” a figure said to hold back the Antichrist.
The restrainer’s identity is unclear, allowing different groups to cast different people or ideas as good or evil.
Weiß says some on the right portray climate action and left-wing politics as serving the Antichrist, while presenting Trump as his opponent.
This religious framing can make political positions seem beyond challenge and support action against those labelled enemies.
Weiß links this use of religion to nationalism and to the idea that national interests should come first.
He also says tech billionaires Peter Thiel and Elon Musk are working toward a state designed for their needs.
Historian Volker Weiß says some international far-right figures use religious imagery, including the Antichrist, to define political enemies.
He says religious language can make political positions seem beyond challenge and justify extreme measures.
Weiß says the figure of the Katechon, or “restrainer” of the Antichrist, is vague and open to political interpretation.
He says AfD politician Maximilian Krah has presented US President Donald Trump as the Katechon.
Weiß links this framing to political movements that prioritize national interests, captured in “America-, Germany-, Russia-first” rhetoric.
- Who
- Historian Volker Weiß discusses the issue; AfD politician Maximilian Krah is cited as an example.
- What
- Weiß says some far-right figures use religious imagery to frame political enemies and present Trump as the Katechon.
- When
- The interview was published on 2 November 2026.
- Where
- The interview was published by n-tv; the discussion concerns international politics.
- Why
- Weiß says religious imagery can give political positions an apparently unquestionable authority and help identify enemies.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Interview publication
- 2 November 2026
- Historian
- Volker Weiß
- AfD politician cited
- Maximilian Krah
- Religious figure discussed
- Katechon, or “restrainer” of the Antichrist
- Examples of national-first rhetoric
- America-first, Germany-first and Russia-first
What people are saying
Religion claims ultimate interpretive authority for itself.
The enemy of God is the enemy above all others; there is no way to go further.
The figure of the Katechon helps to identify an enemy very concretely.
That is the core of all the America-, Germany-, Russia-first talk.