German far-right party taunts chancellor after regional election win

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) taunted Chancellor Friedrich Merz in parliament on Wednesday after its historic regional election win, while Merz countered that the party will never secure a national majority. AfD surged to its biggest victory yet in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, while Merz's Christian Democratic Union lost about half its support. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel told Merz voters "pulverized" his party, but Merz dismissed her prediction of a future governing mandate, calling AfD a "destructive force." Merz criticized AfD's stance on Ukraine and its use of the term "remigration," which he equated with ethnic cleansing. Two more state elections are set for Sept. 20, and U.S. President Donald Trump praised AfD's rise on social media.