Who knew monarchy fever was catching again—not just in Britain, but apparently even in Germany? This week, German authorities arrested Peter Fitzek, the self-appointed “king of Germany,” along with three senior members of his so-called “kingdom,” for plotting a coup to overthrow the German government. It’s a bizarre story, but beneath the surface lies a serious lesson for all freedom-loving Americans.
Fitzek, 59, commands a group known as the Reichsbürger, or “Citizens of the Reich,” who reject the legitimacy of the current German state. This fringe movement, once dismissed as harmless eccentrics, has grown more radical over the past decade, as disillusionment with establishment politics and globalist elites has spread across Europe. Their aim—to create a parallel society under the banner of the “Kingdom of Germany,” complete with its own currency, flag, identification cards, and banking systems—reveals just how deeply alienated some segments of the European population have become.
Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, condemned the Reichsbürger as undermining “the rule of law” and accused them of spreading “antisemitic conspiracy narratives.” Fitzek himself once called Germany’s democratic system “fascist and satanic,” language that clearly echoes the radical fringes of both left and right. The group’s ambitions were not merely symbolic: German security officials allege the Reichsbürger were planning a violent coup, including kidnapping government officials and intentionally provoking civil unrest.
We conservatives often sympathize with European movements that challenge the suffocating grip of globalist bureaucracies, but let’s be clear: violent extremism and crackpot claims of royal privilege have no place in any rational political movement. Fitzek’s delusional fantasy is a stark reminder that legitimate frustrations with corrupt political elites must be channeled peacefully and democratically.
Here in America, under President Trump’s leadership, we’ve shown the world how populist energy can be harnessed responsibly. The MAGA movement revitalized our democracy precisely because it worked within the system—securing our borders, reviving manufacturing, putting America First on trade, and ending senseless foreign conflicts. Trump’s decisive victories, both in 2016 and again in 2024, proved that real change comes at the ballot box, not from some fringe fantasy kingdom.
Yet the Reichsbürger phenomenon offers a cautionary tale. It underscores the dangers that arise when mainstream politics fail to address the legitimate concerns of patriotic citizens. Germany’s political establishment, much like America’s radical left, has spent years dismissing anyone who questions open borders, mass immigration, and economic globalization as bigoted extremists. Their refusal to listen has driven ordinary citizens into the arms of genuine radicals like Fitzek.
We must heed this warning here at home. Even as President Trump leads America back to strength, prosperity, and national pride, the forces that dismiss working-class patriots as “deplorables” and “fascists” are still active. Biden and his allies, even out of power, continue to fan flames of division and demonize mainstream conservative views. It is precisely this arrogance and contempt that breeds real radicalism.
The solution is not to silence those who disagree, nor to ignore their concerns. Instead, political leaders must listen to their citizens’ frustrations and respond constructively. Germany’s failure to heed this lesson has led to the rise of dangerous fringe groups. America must not make the same mistake.
In the end, Peter Fitzek’s absurd claim to be “king of Germany” may seem laughable, but his arrest is a serious wakeup call. When governments ignore the voices of everyday citizens, resentment festers and radicalism grows. We Americans—proudly liberated from monarchy and devoted to constitutional liberty—must remain vigilant, ensuring our republic stays responsive, accountable, and firmly grounded in the will of the people.
