A German AfD politician forced an Antifa mob to clean a vandalized national flag after they attacked his property, exposing the stark double standard in how European media covers left-wing violence versus patriotic self-defense.
AfD Politician Defends National Symbol Against Mob Attack
Philip Steinbeck, an Alternative für Deutschland politician, confronted approximately 20 Antifa activists at his clubhouse in Lübtheen, northern Germany, after they tore down a German flag from his property in 2024. Rather than allowing the vandals to escape, Steinbeck forced the group to clean the desecrated flag, reportedly telling them, “Lick the German flag clean again.”
The incident gained renewed attention in January 2026 when Steinbeck reposted video footage on X, directly addressing Elon Musk and highlighting what he describes as systematic media bias against conservatives who defend national symbols and property rights.
es sich um den AfD-Kommunalpolitiker Philip Steinbeck aus Jessenitz im Kreis Ludwigslust-Parchim handeln.https://t.co/99ivHsQYrF
3/Ende— Omas* Gegen Rechts Leipzig 🌈🦄🏳️🌈 (@OmasGegRechtsLE) December 13, 2025
Media Bias Shields Left-Wing Extremism
German public broadcaster NDR’s coverage of the incident focused primarily on Steinbeck’s treatment of the activists rather than the initial vandalism and intimidation. This editorial choice exemplifies a disturbing pattern where media outlets downplay left-wing violence while scrutinizing conservative responses. Steinbeck disputes NDR’s claim that the teenagers filed criminal complaints, stating they explicitly told him they had no intention of pressing charges. The contrast with American attitudes toward flag defense is stark—where defending national symbols is considered patriotic in the United States, German media frames it as controversial. This double standard undermines public trust in supposedly neutral news organizations.
Pattern of Left-Wing Violence Escalates Across Germany
The Lübtheen incident fits within a broader pattern of left-wing militant activity. On November 29, 2025, more than 25,000 demonstrators clashed with 5,000 police officers in Giessen during the founding congress of Generation Deutschland, the AfD’s youth organization. Masked Antifa protesters threw stones and bottles at police lines, injuring at least ten officers.
They also attacked journalists and an AfD lawmaker during the violence. Additionally, suspected extremist attacks on rail infrastructure brought Berlin’s southern railway line to a standstill. AfD co-chair Alice Weidel described these scenes as “deeply anti-democratic,” accusing political opponents of using intimidation and violence instead of legitimate debate. AfD-linked commentator Naomi Seibt called for designating Antifa as a terrorist organization, following similar actions by President Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
AfD Rises Amid Voter Frustration With Establishment Politics
The AfD emerged as a primary beneficiary of Germany’s political realignment, gaining 20.8 percent in snap elections held on February 23. The party currently leads the governing Christian Democrat Union by 1-2 percent in recent polls, though support has fluctuated following nationwide protests. The AfD’s rise reflects widespread frustration with establishment parties’ handling of geopolitical crises, economic structural problems, and immigration policies.
Founded in 2013 as a response to the Eurozone Crisis, the party has evolved into Germany’s largest political force by addressing concerns mainstream parties ignore or dismiss. The party’s strategy explicitly includes mobilizing parliamentary representation alongside grassroots citizen movements frustrated with current governance failures.
On November 29th, the AfD party held the founding congress of its new youth organization Generation Deutschland (GD) in Giessen.
Thousands of militant far-left Antifa members had arrived to block the congress from taking place.
This is now the German police handled them. pic.twitter.com/juMFp5OlFi
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 21, 2026
Democrat Norms Erode Under Political Polarization
The Steinbeck incident symbolizes Germany’s deepening political divisions, in which the same event generates diametrically opposed narratives depending on ideological perspective. AfD supporters view it as a justified defense against political violence being minimized by biased media. Opponents frame any conservative self-defense as excessive force regardless of provocation.
This erosion of shared factual frameworks damages democratic discourse and institutional trust. Large-scale protests requiring the deployment of 5,000 officers strain public resources while contributing to social fragmentation. The pattern of street-level confrontations suggests potential for escalation as competing political movements increasingly resort to intimidation rather than persuasion. When media institutions selectively report violence based on perpetrators’ political alignment, they accelerate the breakdown of civil society norms essential for democratic stability.
Sources:
German Order Restored: AfD politician Forces Antifa Mob to Clean Up After Attack
Antifa Attack Riot AfD Political Violence Police Clash Germany
Polycrisis and Far-Right Resurgence in Germany
Support for Germany’s Far-Right AfD Reaches New Levels