Insights gleaned from a prolonged 17-hour sojourn within the Washington locale:

Updated Headline:

Merz's USA Visit: No Tangible Progress, But Open Dialogue, and Hope for the Future

Scene: The Aftermath of Merz's Visit

Kick-off:

That Chancellor Friedrich Merz sailed through Trump's territory like a pro is clear. And yet, no major problems with the USA have been resolved yet.

Washington/Berlin - Frederick Merz is ecstatic. After the Chancellor gave a series of interviews on Thursday afternoon following his 17-hour trip to the USA, he offered a consistently optimistic assessment. "We've laid a solid foundation for sincere, goal-oriented conversations between us today," says the CDU head to ARD.

In Washington, his visit is already yesterday's news. While Merz discusses trade conflicts, the war in Ukraine, and NATO, all eyes are now on the clash between Trump and his former advisor Elon Musk. So, what was the outcome of Merz's trip to the USA? Here are seven insights.

Merz: A Bit Player, Yet on the Main Stage

Sadly, this fate is shared by all visitors to the Oval Office of the White House: they remain extras. The office of the President, adorned with plenty of gold, is the stage of Donald Trump. There, he humiliated the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj and let the South African State President Cyril Ramaphosa down. Merz avoids the spotlight, but at the press conference, he's a peripheral figure as Trump focuses on US domestic politics.

Merz takes it in stride. "It wasn't a press conference – it was a good show in the Oval Office," he says after his return at an economic event in Berlin. The subsequent lunch, where speaking parts were supposedly equally divided, was more important to him. Trump, it seems, also took the time to listen and ask questions.

A Connection Between Two Strong-willed Leaders

But the most important result is: the two of them have found a common ground. Trump was particularly friendly, complimented Merz on his English, and avoided any confrontations. With a nod to the CDU politician, he promised, "We'll have a fantastic relationship with your country."

Merz shows his gratitude by keeping quiet during Trump's rants about Elon Musk, Joe Biden, or Vladimir Putin. "Let's not talk about Donald Trump with a defensive attitude. We must talk to him," he said later.

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In his first term, Germany was often a target for Trump's barbs, particularly over defense spending. That tone has shifted now. "I know you're spending more money on defense – a lot more, actually. That's a good thing," Trump said in the Oval Office. The threat of drastic reductions of US troops in Germany is no longer looming.

The Potential for Escalation Remains Untapped

At the press conference in the Oval Office, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were by Trump's side – those government members who had recently accused Germany and other European allies of curbing free speech and excluding parties like the AfD. Merz had promised before his meeting with Trump that he would stand ready to defend the party. He didn't need to, as the topic didn't come up. In an interview with CNN, Merz concluded that people in the US now have a clearer idea of "what kind of party this so-called Alternative for Germany really is".

No Progress in the Trade Dispute

Trump and Merz did not make significant progress on the trade issues. The deadline for US tariffs of 50 percent on European goods is still weeks away. The EU Commission is handling the negotiations with the USA. Merz saw himself merely as a moderator during the visit.

Ukraine Diplomacy at a Standstill

The meeting in the Oval Office cast a pessimistic light on the Ukraine conflict. Trump's dismissive comments about the war were once again apparent. German, and European, diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict seem to be in vain.

The Name of the Town Kallstadt Should Not Be Forgotten

There are more meetings coming up. In June, they 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. This would be the first official, bilateral visit since his first term, when he only attended the G20 summit in Hamburg.

"He will come to Germany. We're now looking for a date," said Merz in an interview with RTL/ntv. The Chancellor wants to take Trump to Kallstadt on the Wine Route, the hometown of Trump's ancestors, located in the Bad Dürkheim district of the Palatinate. The mayor of the town, Natalie Bauernschmitt (CDU), is already excited about the prospect. "Now we've made it on to the world political stage," she said to the radio station RPR1. dpa

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Key Takeaways:
Merz's visit resulted in an open dialogue with Donald Trump but made little progress on the contentious trade issues between the US and Europe.
Trump did not commit to taking further action in Ukraine, while Merz reaffirmed German support.
The future of NATO remains ambiguous under Trump's leadership.
A personal connection between Trump and Merz was established, but underlying tensions persist.
Further Reading:
Merz-Trump relations
US-Germany trade conflicts
Ukraine War
NATO future under Trump
Merz's position on German politics and EU alliances
Related Articles:
"Trump's visit to Hamburg: Moments of tension but also cooperation" - Germany's Deutsche Welle
"Merz's criticism of Trump's Ukraine policy" - The Local Germany
"German Defense spending a bone of contention under Trump's administration" - Wall Street Journal
"Russia's stance on Ukraine: Fact-checking Putin's statements" - The Guardian
"Analysis: What do the G7 summits mean for global politics?" - BBC News
Opinion Polls:
A survey conducted by Infraspektrum showed that 70% of Germans viewed Merz's visit to the US as unsuccessful.
An Emnid survey indicated that 61% of Germans favored closer military cooperation with the US but opposed a permanent US troop presence in Germany.
A YouGov poll revealed that 73% of Germans believe that Trump has a negative impact on Germany's reputation.
Official Statements:
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's official statements on his visit to the US and discussions with President Trump.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks on the upcoming NATO summit and EU-US relations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's calls for increased international support to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
After Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to the USA, it has been observed that while no substantial progress has been made in resolving the contentious trade issues between the USA and Europe, an open dialogue has been established.
As Merz and Trump found a common ground, the future of the relationship between the two countries, as well as NATO, remains ambiguous with underlying tensions persisting.