Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has risked provoking ire in the White House by comparing former US President Donald Trump’s “America First” slogan to Nazi Germany’s “Deutschland über Alles”, arguing that such rhetoric signals a dangerous shift towards nationalism and unilateralism in global affairs.

In an article published in Russia in Global Affairs, Lavrov stated that Trump’s foreign policy approach mirrors historical precedents where nationalist slogans were used to justify aggressive expansion and disregard for international norms.

“The ‘America First’ concept carries a troubling resemblance to the slogan of the Hitler era, ‘Deutschland über Alles’ [Germany Above All],” Lavrov wrote. “The emphasis on 'establishing peace through strength' could ultimately bury diplomacy; not to mention that such statements show not even a shadow of respect for Washington's international legal obligations.”

He warned that if the US continues prioritising its own interests at the expense of international agreements, it could further destabilise the global order and escalate geopolitical tensions.

Lavrov’s remarks form part of a broader Russian narrative portraying Western nations, particularly the US, as acting in bad faith on the international stage. Moscow has repeatedly accused Washington of undermining multilateralism, claiming that its actions violate the principles of the UN Charter. According to Lavrov, Trump’s foreign policy doctrine exemplifies this trend, dismissing long-standing diplomatic agreements in favour of “cowboy-style raids” that seek to reshape the world in America’s image.

“Multipolarity is strengthening, and instead of opposing this objective process, the United States could, in the foreseeable historical perspective, become one of the responsible centres of power – alongside Russia, China and other major states of the Global South, East, North and West,” Lavrov wrote. “However, for now, it seems that the new US administration will resort to cowboy-style raids to test the limits of flexibility within the existing UN-centred system and its resilience to American interests.”

This is not the first time that Russia has invoked Nazi comparisons to criticise its adversaries. The Kremlin has frequently relied on such rhetoric in the context of its war in Ukraine, accusing Kyiv’s government of neo-Nazism as part of its justification for military action.

Trump’s “America First” slogan, however, is not new to US politics. It was first used by President Woodrow Wilson during his 1916 re-election campaign, later gaining notoriety in the 1940s when adopted by isolationist groups opposing US involvement in World War II. Trump revived the phrase in his 2016 campaign, making it the cornerstone of his presidency’s foreign policy and using it again in his 2024 election bid. His approach prioritises US interests over international alliances, which critics argue undermines global cooperation.

Lavrov’s decision to directly associate Trump’s slogan with Nazi-era Germany is particularly striking given Russia’s previously cautious approach towards Trump. During his first term, Moscow saw Trump as a leader who could ease tensions between the two countries. However, with his return to power in 2025, Russia appears less certain about its relationship with Washington.

The comparison is unlikely to influence policymakers in the West, where Trump’s nationalism is typically framed as an isolationist rather than expansionist strategy. However, within Russia, such rhetoric resonates strongly with domestic audiences. The Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany remains a cornerstone of Russian national identity, and references to the fight against fascism continue to serve as a powerful political tool.