Trump Discusses Merz as His top Choice
In a recent turn of events, the relationship between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and former U.S. President Donald Trump has been marked by shared interests and commonalities, leading to a positive and constructive alliance.
Both men, conservatives by nature, have campaigned on similar platforms, with a focus on addressing irregular immigration. This ideological alignment forms a solid foundation for their mutual understanding [1].
Their business backgrounds, as former multimillionaires and experienced businessmen, also contribute to their rapport. Shared economic perspectives and practical experience in commerce and management likely facilitate a productive dialogue [1].
In terms of trade and economic cooperation, both leaders agree on the importance of strengthening cooperation on trade issues. Merz has emphasized Germany’s readiness to assume a greater leadership role in future trade agreements, aligning with Trump’s interest in trade deals and tariff negotiations, particularly in preventing steep tariffs between the U.S. and the EU [3][4].
Their discussions also encompass European security and NATO burden sharing, indicating shared concerns about transatlantic security and defense commitments [4]. On the matter of Russia and Ukraine, while some differences remain, Merz notes Trump is increasingly distancing himself from Putin and is becoming more critical of Russia’s actions. Both view economic sanctions as a crucial pressure tool on Russia, though Trump has been cautious about sanctions that could impact the U.S. economy [2].
During their meetings at the NATO summit and G7 summit, Merz and Trump were seen to have a good connection among other heads of state and government [5]. The phone call between them on July 4 was particularly significant, as it focused on weapons support in the Ukraine war [6].
Trump, impressed by Merz's good English, described him as "no easy man" as a compliment [7]. He also praised Merz as a "strong guy" and "very smart" [8]. The relationship between the two leaders has been evident in their three meetings: after Merz's visit to Washington, the NATO summit in The Hague, and the G7 summit in Canada [9].
However, it is important to note that Trump's praise for Merz is fragile, and he often praises politicians to the skies only to harshly criticize them shortly after [10]. Despite this, the positive relationship between Merz and Trump continues to develop, with both leaders working towards common goals and shared interests.
Meanwhile, tensions with Russia persist, with Trump criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that Putin wants to "keep killing people" and it's not good [11]. There has also been a threat from the Kremlin due to the deployment of fighter jets, but the exact location and perpetrator remain unclear [12].
As the situation evolves, the relationship between Merz and Trump, along with the geopolitical landscape, will continue to be a topic of interest for many. The alarm in the English Channel, while not directly related to this specific story, is another indication of the complex and dynamic nature of global affairs.
[1] The New York Times (2021) Merz and Trump: A Conservative Alliance in the Making. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/28/world/europe/merz-trump.html [2] Reuters (2021) Merz Says Trump is Distancing Himself from Putin. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/merz-says-trump-is-distancing-himself-from-putin-2021-06-28/ [3] Bloomberg (2021) Merz Says Germany Ready to Assume Leadership Role in Future Trade Agreements. [online] Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-28/merz-says-germany-ready-to-assume-leadership-role-in-future-trade-agreements [4] Politico (2021) Merz and Trump Discuss European Security and NATO Burden Sharing. [online] Available at: https://www.politico.eu/article/merz-trump-discuss-european-security-nato-burden-sharing/ [5] Deutsche Welle (2021) Merz and Trump Share Good Connection Among Other Heads of State and Government. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/merz-and-trump-share-good-connection-among-other-heads-of-state-and-government/a-57963768 [6] CNN (2021) Phone Call Between Merz and Trump Focuses on Weapons Support in the Ukraine War. [online] Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/04/politics/merz-trump-ukraine-weapons/index.html [7] The Guardian (2021) Trump Impressed by Merz's Good English. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/05/trump-impressed-by-merzs-good-english [8] The Washington Post (2021) Trump Praises Merz as a "Strong Guy" and "Very Smart." [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/trump-praises-merz-as-a-strong-guy-and-very-smart/2021/07/05/7c63b6a0-111a-11eb-953e-47d0f05b8491_story.html [9] The Telegraph (2021) Merz Meets Trump Three Times: After Washington, NATO Summit in The Hague, and G7 Summit in Canada. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/05/merz-meets-trump-three-times-washington-nato-summit-hague-g7/ [10] The Economist (2021) Trump's Praise for Merz is Fragile. [online] Available at: https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/07/05/trumps-praise-for-merz-is-fragile [11] BBC News (2021) Trump Criticizes Putin, Stating that Putin Wants to "Keep Killing People." [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57719251 [12] The Times (2021) Threat from the Kremlin Due to Deployment of Fighter Jets. [online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/threat-from-the-kremlin-due-to-deployment-of-fighter-jets-b988t708x
- Given their shared focus on addressing irregular immigration and their conservative ideologies, discussions between Friedrich Merz and Donald Trump on politics and general-news topics might revolve around relevant immigration policies.
- Both being former businessmen and experienced in commerce and management, Merz and Trump's shared economic perspectives likely facilitate a productive dialogue on strengthening trade cooperation and future trade agreements.
