Build a [fire]wall and make China pay for it is an amusing — if bleak — joke. Thank you :)

What do you mean though by protection from “German nihilists”? Is that a satirical name you imagine the US government might use for the EU?

The timing of the slogan change is not really ideal for blaming German nihilists but it's all a while ago around when the big Lebowski surfaced that very serious threat..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWIII_(album)

Perhaps a sideways reference to old movies? “Nihilists! Fuck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos.”[0]

Or maybe just a direct reference to Strauss, I dunno.

[0] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/quotes?item=qt0464759&r...