Former U.S. Congress Representatives Val Demings and Luke Messer visit NRW

Reception at Cologne’s Historic City Hall

While Demings and Messer held clearly different positions on a range of political and societal issues, they found common ground on certain core themes. They agreed that bipartisan collaboration is essential, that the German-American partnership is central and needs to be nurtured and expanded, and that democracy requires constructive, civilized debates and respectful engagement with political opponents. These former representatives exemplified this culture of discussion throughout various events from Dortmund to Bonn, from classrooms to city halls.

The program commenced with a reception at Cologne’s Historic City Hall, where Mayor Andreas Wolter welcomed the American guests and provided an introduction to the history of the city and the region. Following a luncheon with representatives from non-profit organizations and educational institutions, the delegation visited Trude-Herr Comprehensive School in Cologne-Muelheim. There, Val Demings and Luke Messer discussed the “American Dream” and addressed a multitude of questions from students, ranging from changes in American society to the situation in the Middle East.

At Marie-Kahle Comprehensive School in Bonn

The following morning, the barrage of questions continued in the packed auditorium of the Marie-Kahle Comprehensive School in Bonn. Many students seized the opportunity to hear firsthand what currently engages the two major parties in the USA and how they navigate topics from the rights of queer individuals to gun legislation. After a subsequent discussion with students from the Department of North American Studies at the University of Bonn, an evening event focused on evaluating President Joe Biden’s tenure. In a public event at the University of Bonn, Val Demings and Luke Messer deliberated on the achievements of the current U.S. administration, considering both the domestic situation and the challenging foreign policy landscape.

Meeting with NRW-USA Parliamentary Group

On the third day, the journey took them to the state capital, Düsseldorf. Following a lunch discussion with representatives from politics, business, and civil society, hosted by US Consul General Pauline Kao, Val Demings and Luke Messer met with the NRW-USA Parliamentary Group in the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament, chaired by Angela Freimuth, Member of the State Parliament (MdL). In the evening, a public “Town Hall” discussion at Düsseldorf City Hall was on the agenda. After the opening by Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller, the former congress members spoke on the topic “Global Upheaval and Partisan Divisions: How Do We Tackle the Challenges of Our Time Together?” addressing the political landscape in the USA and the necessity to strengthen bipartisan and transatlantic cooperation in the face of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

NRW Center for Talent Promotion in Gelsenkirchen

The last day of the program commenced with a visit to the NRW Center for Talent Promotion in Gelsenkirchen. In addition to discussions on U.S. politics, topics related to career choices and paths in politics and public service were also on the agenda. The Former Members of Congress encouraged the students to consistently pursue their dreams and actively engage in politics and public institutions. Val Demings appealed to the young audience, saying, “Never underestimate your voice.” Following this, a discussion with students from various disciplines took place at TU Dortmund. The visit of the American guests concluded in the evening at a brewery in Dortmund.

Given the widely discussed divisions within American politics and society, many participants felt that the respectful dialogue conducted by Val Demings and Luke Messer throughout the various events, and beyond, was not only a welcome change but also an encouraging signal that bipartisan understanding and cooperation are still possible. The numerous questions posed by the audience everywhere to the former Members of Congress demonstrated a keen interest in the USA and the value of direct transatlantic exchange.

The program was conducted by AmerikaHaus NRW in cooperation with the City of Düsseldorf, the City of Dortmund, the Europe Direct Center Dortmund, Auslandsgesellschaft.de, and the Association of Former Members of Congress.