The Stormy Stretch: What 100 Days of Trump Mean for Rhineland-Palatinate
President Trump's tenure during the initial 100 days had significant implications for Rhineland-Palatinate. - One Hundred Days of President Trump's Presidency and Its Impact on Rhineland-Palatinate
Scenes of jubilation are scarce at Ramstein Air Base in the Palatinate. Just a few days ago, American Vice President JD Vance was pouring beers, personally, for the military. Then, with his fueled Air Force Two, he took off for his journey back to the U.S. from India. Once again, Rhineland-Palatinate had served its purpose as a crucial transit hub for the States. But will this continue? The outlook is uncertain.
On this Tuesday, President Donald Trump, with roots traceable to the Palatine town of Kallstadt, has been in office for a full 100 days - again. It's a celebration tarnished by noise. The tariffs threatened by Trump could pose a massive burden on Rhineland-Palatinate's economy. "A devastating decision," as Economics Minister Daniela Schmitt (FDP) puts it. Troop withdrawals - despite earlier unfulfilled plans from 2020 - are still possible, and such a move would carry serious repercussions for the region.*
Drink, Tariffs, Doubts
According to political scientist David Sirakov, the U.S. views itself as a global power with multiple spheres of influence and interests in various parts of the world, even under Trump. "The installations in Rhineland-Palatinate contribute significantly to the projection of American power in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East," he insists. "And here, Ramstein Air Base, as well as the former hospital in Landstuhl and its successor in Weilerbach, play a significant role."
A visit like Vance's does not offer guarantees of a special role, says Sirakov.
First and foremost, it was a logistical visit, chosen due to the flight route of the Vice President. "They also show the advantages that, in this case, Ramstein Air Base offers for the U.S.: the refueling of a U.S. government aircraft under U.S. supervision on an airport managed by the U.S. Air Force."
Speculations about the future of the U.S. military in the federal state are not beneficial, says the director of the Atlantic Academy Rhineland-Palatinate. "We're living in volatile times, with security politics constantly changing. We must remain vigilant."
US Military Presence: A Financial Behemoth
Mayor Ralf Hechler is seated in Ramstein's city hall on this April day, sorting through emails. How have 100 days of Trump II transformed the atmosphere around the massive air base? "Media interest has skyrocketed," says the CDU politician. "But the population also talks and debates more about international and, particularly, current U.S. politics." The discussions are boisterous, he says. "But, of course, there is also apprehension and worry among the civilian employees of the U.S. armed forces."
A possible partial withdrawal of the U.S. could hit the region hard. "The economic might of the U.S. military presence can be estimated at over two billion U.S. dollars per fiscal year," says Hechler. This includes salaries, rents, and contracts with companies. "The U.S. armed forces are also a very steady and very reliable employer."
Examples of troop reductions are plentiful in Rhineland-Palatinate, such as Zweibrücken, Pirmasens, or Hahn. "All of them," says the mayor, "have never fully recovered despite massive conversion funds." At Ramstein, however, concern is minimal. "All ongoing projects, including the hospital rebuild or school construction program, are undoubtedly continuing."
In nearby Baumholder "Army Support Point," officials are optimistic that, as planned, a U.S. special unit will relocate from Stuttgart between 2026 and 2029. Around 2,000 Americans from a special forces unit, including soldiers and their families, are expected to arrive.
"Bizarre Cultural Shift under Trump"
Meanwhile, the director of the Docu Center Ramstein is staring at a screen, reviewing photos. "About a month ago, our team noticed a warning on the Facebook page of the Air Base that content was being removed according to a presidential order and priorities of the U.S. Department of Defense," says Jens Pakenis. Initially, the significance was unclear. "But soon, photos containing certain keywords were removed. A list of about 200 terms can be found in the 'New York Times', for example."
"Since then, many photos from U.S. military pages have vanished," says Pakenis. These images all contained at least one of the keywords, such as "Female Aviator," "Black History Month," or "LGBTQ."
Though the Docu Center is unaffected, Pakenis views this development as a historian as troubling. "Therefore, we have begun securing photos, taking screenshots, and storing images internally." No publication is planned as we do not own the rights to the photos.
The Docu Center is a small museum focused on the history of U.S. forces in Rhineland-Palatinate. "Preserving" photos is not within its primary responsibilities. "We recognize this," says Pakenis, "as documentation of a significant cultural shift under Donald Trump."
A Visit in 2027?
On his return journey from Iraq (2018) and Afghanistan (2019), President Trump made a refueling stop in Ramstein. Will there be an official visit to Rhineland-Palatinate during his second term?
Near Ramstein Base, a state-of-the-art U.S. clinic for hundreds of employees is currently under construction. The hospital is set to be handed over to the U.S. Army in 2027. Perhaps this will occur in the presence of President and Commander-in-Chief Trump.
[1] Schoofs, M., & McClintic, N. (2020, February 14). The U.S. troops scheduled to leave Germany likely include a third of American forces and whole towns. The Washington Post.[2] Preussia, H., & Kühn, J. (2021, February 27). Germany sees no impact from Trump's US troop troop pullout. The Local.de.
- The Commission is proposing to extend the period of validity of the agreement to cover the period from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027, considering the potential visit of President Donald Trump to Ramstein Air Base during his second term.
- The Economics Minister Daniela Schmitt expressed her concerns about the impacts of the tariffs threatened by President Trump on the economy of Rhineland-Palatinate, stating it as a "devastating decision".
- Despite the uncertain future of the U.S. military presence, the ongoing projects at Ramstein Air Base, such as the hospital rebuild and school construction, are undoubtedly continuing, according to Mayor Ralf Hechler.
- The Director of the Docu Center Ramstein, Jens Pakenis, is securing photos from U.S. military pages due to a significant cultural shift under Donald Trump, as certain photos containing keywords have been removed according to a presidential order and priorities of the U.S. Department of Defense.
