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Kallstadt's mayor brings Palatinate wine to America - a look back!
Thomas Jaworek, mayor of Kallstadt, traveled to Washington with a delegation to shed light on trade relations and Trump's roots.
Kallstadt's mayor brings Palatinate wine to America - a look back!
Thomas Jaworek, the mayor of Kallstadt, looks back on a successful trip to the USA. Together with a delegation led by Prime Minister Alexander Schweitzer (SPD), he addressed important political issues and represented the Kallstadt region, which is known for its wine production. Although a meeting with US President Donald Trump was not on the agenda, interest in Kallstadt and its connection to Trump, whose paternal grandparents come from the small community, was clearly noticeable.
Jaworek emphasized that the trip was particularly significant for a volunteer local politician. Regarding the political topics of the trip, he said that tariffs and Germany's contribution to defense were discussed. His conclusion underlines the importance of how big politics gets a face in the villages and cities. “I am often asked about Donald Trump’s roots in Kallstadt,” says Jaworek. In fact, Kallstadt has more than 1,250 residents and is a place with a strong history of immigration and emigration.
Strengthen cultural connections
During the stay in Washington, Rhineland-Palatinate, together with the German Embassy, organized a celebration for German Unity Day. Prime Minister Schweitzer therefore also took wine from Kallstadt with him, which met with great interest. The delegation brought a total of 120 bottles of Palatinate wine, which were quickly consumed. “There has been interest shown in how to buy Palatinate wine in the USA,” said Jaworek.
The dining offering in Kallstadt offers more than 2,000 seats and 300 beds for guests and includes, among other things, classic Palatinate dishes, including vegetarian and potentially vegan versions of Saumagen. Kallstadt itself represents the history of immigration and emigration for various reasons and is very popular with former military personnel who were stationed in the region.
Future prospects and Trump
As for the likelihood that Donald Trump will visit Kallstadt, Jaworek said that it remains unchanged and depends on Trump's decisions. The connection to Trump reinforces Kallstadt's identity as part of a global community shaped by cultural heritage - a central theme of the delegation trip under the motto: "Common Heritage - Shared Security - Joint Future".
Schweitzer is also planning further discussions in Congress and the Pentagon as well as meetings with representatives from business, civil society, universities, research and culture. The delegation's visit highlights the political and economic relevance of the region, in which the USA is considered Rhineland-Palatinate's second most important trading partner.
The feedback on the trip was consistently positive, and the Kallstadt mayor emphasized the joy of the descendants of former emigrants who wanted to get to know their roots. Despite mixed opinions about Donald Trump in Kallstadt, interest in his connection to the community remains, potentially holding future opportunities for the small town and its citizens.