Florida Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna has announced her support for far-right German climate skeptic Naomi Seibt, who is seeking asylum in the United States.
Seibt has claimed she facing political persecution in Germany due to her support for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
“I applied for asylum with no intention to ask for a favor to prioritize my case. I am a legitimate asylum-seeker, my case speaks for itself. But when congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna saw my announcement, she approached me and immediately offered her personal support. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity. We both fight for the same goals: The protection of free speech and our shared Western values,” Seibt told Newsweek.
Newsweek has contacted the office of Representative Luna, the German government and the White House for comment.
Why It Matters
Seibt, who has gained attention internationally as an “anti-Greta Thunberg,” has promoted climate skepticism and has received support from figures such as Elon Musk. She has claimed that her advocacy in Germany has led to harassment by government authorities, including claims of surveillance by German intelligence.
What To Know
Representative Luna said in a post on X that she had reviewed documentation related to Seibt’s asylum case and expressed concern that the influencer could face imprisonment or physical danger if she returns to Germany. Luna cited Seibt’s political positions, including her support for President Donald Trump and Germany’s right-wing AfD party, as factors leading to her alleged targeting.
“It is clear that, due to her support for President Trump and her refusal to conform to leftist ideology, she has been targeted and could face imprisonment/physical danger if she returns to Germany—simply for rejecting the groupthink that is currently dominating the country and destroying its economy,” Luna said in a post on X.
She added that she plans to assist Seibt personally and communicate with the U.S. Secretary of State regarding her case.
“What is even more alarming is that she was targeted by German intelligence and government officials for advocating on behalf of the German people and supporting the AfD,” Lune said.
In November 2020, Seibt falsely claimed that COVID-19 had not been isolated and that PCR tests were unreliable, alleging they were based solely on a computer model of the virus’s genome.
Seibt was initially likened to Greta Thunberg by the Süddeutsche Zeitung following her speech at the European Institute for Climate and Energy’s International Climate and Energy Conference.
She later joined The Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based U.S. think tank known for its support of fracking, past lobbying for tobacco companies, and its rejection of the mainstream scientific consensus on climate change, to participate in its climate-skeptic outreach efforts.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has set the annual refugee admissions cap for the United States at 7,500, with a focus on individuals from South Africa, marking a significant reduction from previous years. The new limit was announced on Thursday and represents a change from America’s traditional role in admitting refugees from around the world. The decision is part of a stricter policy approach of the Republican administration toward curbing migration and restricting refugee admissions.
What People Are Saying
Seibt wrote in a post on X: The German government is supporting left-wing violence, covering up MIGRANT CRlMES and silencing dissidents with mass house raids.
Luna wrote on X: “The very same German government that claims to fight Nazism is becoming acting [sic] like the secret police. If you share a meme, you may go to jail. If you criticize a politician, you could face retribution or imprisonment.”
Update, 10/31/25, 13:18 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Seibt