Trump receives cordial greeting from Merz, Germany's Chancellor
Friedrich Merz Sizes Up Donald Trump in White House Meeting
Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, huddled with former US President Donald Trump in an attempt to mend fences and strengthen ties between the two nations. Merz, a CDU politician, approached the encounter with cautious optimism, having observed previous US leaders' testy interactions with Trump.
In the Oval Office, Merz expressed his appreciation for the US, noting their shared history and the gratitude Germany owes to American forces. Trump responded favorably, praising Merz as a "respected" and "good man," and indicating a positive future for US-Germany relations.
Taming the Beast
For Merz, this meeting was a crucial opportunity to measure himself against the unpredictable Trump. In recent months, Trump has left several foreign leaders feeling belittled and humiliated following Oval Office meetings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa both have bitter memories of their encounters with Trump.
Merz entered the White House meeting with modest ambitions: to form a connection with the world's most powerful man, to exchange perspectives, and, ideally, to establish a working relationship.
A Gift for the Beast
Merz arrived bearing a gift: a large, gold-framed copy of Trump's grandfather Friedrich's birth certificate, born in Kallstadt, Palatinate, in 1869. Trump was touched by the gesture, expressing his gratitude and promising to display the certificate.
Trump's granddad had immigrated to the US in 1885, working as a barber before becoming a US citizen in 1892 and changing his name to Frederick. However, upon his return to Kallstadt, local authorities refused to let him in due to paperwork issues.
Merz had previously invited Trump to visit Germany, although Trump's response was not discussed during the meeting.
Old Friends in New Places
Merz and Trump have met only once before, sometime back in New York. Since Merz's ascension to the chancellorship, they have spoken multiple times – during one-on-one calls and in larger gatherings regarding the Ukrainian war. Merz now keeps Trump's cell phone number and regularly communicates with him via text, often addressing him by his first name, according to the German side.
During a recent appearance at the WDR Europaforum, Merz shared some insights into their intimate conversations. "When you speak with him alone, it's just small talk," he recounted. "And what's important is to not talk too long, but to talk briefly and let him talk too."
The two men found common ground, discussing their shared affection for the American Pope and the US city of Chicago. Merz has a rich history with the US, having worked for an American investment firm: BlackRock. This mutual business background ties Merz to Trump, who built an empire as a real estate entrepreneur before taking up residence in the White House. Trump's business, later under investigation for fraud, is now managed by his adult sons.
Sensitive Topics Tiptoed Around
Also present at the press conference in the Oval Office were Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom have accused Germany and other European allies of stifling free speech and excluding parties like the AfD. Merz had acknowledged earlier that US criticism of German policies might be intrusive. This delicate matter was never broached during the meeting in the Oval Office.
Merz appeared at the White House without an interpreter, demonstrating his confidence. However, he sought counsel from several heads of state and government who had met with Trump before him, including Zelenskyy, Ramaphosa, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
War and Peace
The central focus of the meeting was finding a way to end the war in Ukraine. Merz has positioned himself at the forefront of this issue among Europeans, and he finds himself in agreement with Trump on this matter. Both are frustrated by the seemingly intractable violence and hope for a peaceful resolution. However, Merz remained cautious about imposing new sanctions on Russia.
Trump has yet to express his stance on a related Congressional bill, and patience is running thin among US policymakers. After another phone call with Putin the day before Merz's visit, Trump admitted that he saw no immediate chance for peace but stopped short of offering concrete solutions.
Defense Spending
The matter of NATO defense spending was another key talking point during the meeting. Trump had long criticized Germany for insufficient military spending, but he expressed approval this time around. "I know that you are now spending more money on defense – and quite a bit more. That's a positive thing," said Trump.
The upcoming NATO summit at the end of June will address defense spending, with Trump demanding that alliance partners spend 5% of their GDP on defense. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte proposed a compromise formula: 3.5% for military spending and 1.5% for infrastructure like roads or harbors. Merz has adopted this compromise, moving closer to fulfilling Trump's demands. Whether this will ultimately satisfy Trump remains to be seen.
In the course of their meeting, Merz and Trump discussed sensitive topics such as defense spending, with Merz recently increasing military spending and striving to meet Trump's demands closer to NATO's 5% GDP target for defense and infrastructure. Additionally, they found common ground on the complex issue of war and conflict, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine, with both hoping for a peaceful resolution while Merz remains cautious about imposing new sanctions on Russia.
