Merz and Trump: A New Era Unfolds in 17 Hours of Washington
Insights gained from a prolonged 17-hour stay in Washington D.C. - Insights Gleaned from a 17-hour Sojourn in Washington D.C.
Hey there! Let's chat about Friedrich Merz's recent get-together with President Donald Trump at the White House. Not a bad gig, eh?
Yup, you guessed it - Merz was pleased as punch. After two and a half hours in the Oval Office, he was spilling the beans to every reporter around the Lincoln Memorial like a seasoned pro. His visit, though, was already yesterday's news in the political world of Washington D.C. While Merz chatted about trade, Ukraine, and NATO, all the gossip was about the beef between Trump and his former advisor, Elon Musk. But, let's dive into what Merz's 17-hour sojourn in the U.S. truly accomplished... and what it didn't. Seven deets for ya.
Merz, drowning in the spotlight yet still an extra
You know the drill — all visits to the Oval Office share a similar destiny: they're extras. The gold-adorned office is Trump's stage. In it, Trump humiliated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and left South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hanging. Merz managed to avoid this drama, but at the press conference, he remained a sidekick, while Trump focused on U.S. domestic politics.
Merz took it in stride. "That wasn't a press conference, it was a show in the Oval Office," he said upon his return at an economic event in Berlin. He found the lunch (steak, potatoes, cream donut, and Coca Cola) more important, as the speakers' roles were evenly divided, and Trump listened, asked questions, andwas genuinely engaged.
A chemistry that clicked
The most important outcome of their first meeting was the undeniable connection they formed. Trump was friendly, flattered Merz's English, and steered clear of any arguments. He called the CDU politician a "respected" and "good man" and promised, "We're going to have a fantastic relationship with your country."
Merz, in turn, avoided commenting on Trump's rants about Elon Musk, Joe Biden, or Vladimir Putin. "Let's stop whining about Donald Trump," he later said. "We should talk to him, not about him."
A potential key figure in Trump's European contacts
The Chancellor aims to become one of, if not the, most crucial contact for Trump in Europe. The role has so far been held by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Trump's European contact number on his phone just might be Merz's very soon.
Germany, no longer on Trump's list of enemies
In his first term, Germany was, in a sense, Trump's target. Especially the defense spending of Europe's largest economy, which fell short of NATO targets at the time, was a favorite subject of his criticism. That's no longer the case. "I see you're investing more in defense now - a lot more," Trump said in the Oval Office, with no mention of his harsh words from the past.
The chance for escalation went untapped
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also present during the press conference, ready to attack Germany and other European allies for curtailing freedom of speech and excluding parties like the AfD. Merz had warned that he was prepared for these accusations before his meeting with Trump. However, the topic did not come up during the press conference or the joint lunch. Merz later concluded that the U.S. now has a better understanding of "what kind of party the so-called Alternative for Germany really is."
No significant progress in trade disputes
Trump and Merz did not make significant headway on the trade issues. The EU Commission is still responsible for negotiations with the U.S., and there's still time to prevent U.S. tariffs of 50% on goods from the EU before July 9. The only concrete agreement between the two came in the form of improving trade relations: representatives from the White House and the Chancellor's Office will now handle the coordination of economic ties more effectively.
A grim outlook for Ukraine
The meeting in the Oval Office painted a grim picture for the Ukraine war. Efforts by the U.S. and Europeans appear to be fruitless. Trump compared the situation to two children fighting fiercely before being separated. Trump seemed hesitant to exert additional pressure on Russian President Putin through new sanctions or strengthened military support, as the Europeans have urged.
Kallstadt, a name to remember
More meetings are on the horizon. In June, the two will first meet at the G7 summit in Canada and then at the NATO summit in The Hague. But that's not all. Trump has accepted an invitation to visit Germany for the very first time, according to Merz. In his first term, he only attended the G20 summit in Hamburg. The Chancellor aims to bring the U.S. President to Kallstadt on the Wine Route, where Trump's ancestors are from. The mayor of Bad Dürkheim, Natalie Bauernschmitt (CDU), is already excited at the prospect. "We've finally made it to the world political stage," she said on the radio.
Stay tuned for more updates on this fascinating meeting between Merz and Trump!
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
Merz's visit and meeting with President Trump yielded several key insights and achievemenets:
- Constructive Dialogue: Merz managed to engage in a constructive and relatively conflict-free dialogue with Trump[2][7].
- Ukraine Conflict: Merz urged Trump to help resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine[3].
- Military Pressure on Russia: Merz encouraged Trump to exert greater military pressure on Russia in response to aggression in Ukraine[3].
- Trade Issues: Negotiations on trade disputes between the U.S. and EU are ongoing, and the EU Commission is still responsible for talks[6][7].
- Positive Personal and Political Relations: Both Merz and Trump expressed satisfaction with the meeting, with Merz emphasizing that they established a strong foundation for future conversations[2][7].
- Perception of the AfD: The subject of Germany's right-wing party, AfD, did not come up during the meeting, but Merz later commented that the U.S. now has a better understanding of its true nature[5].
- Potential U.S. Visit: Trump has accepted an invitation to visit Germany, marking the first official bilateral visit since his presidency began[8].
- The European Union continues to prioritize the development of a European strategy for the fight against terrorism in light of political changes, as demonstrated by Friedrich Merz's meeting with President Donald Trump.
- The discussion between Merz and Trump on U.S. domestic politics was part of the general news cycle, illustrating the interconnectedness of global politics.
