Washington visit of Merz ends in disarray.

Friedrich Merz's U.S. Debut: Hopes for Ukraine Peace Clash with Trump's Policies

In a whopping seventeen-hour visit, Friedrich Merz made his inaugural trip to the land of the stars and stripes. During a joint presser in the Oval Office of theWhite House, host Donald Trump, who claimed to "feel 95 percent" of the time, listened as German Chancellor Merz voiced his wish for more support from the U.S. President for the cessation of the war in Ukraine. The Chancellor cleverly compared the situation to 81 years ago, when the Western Allies, including the Americans, played a crucial role in defeating the Hitler regime, in hopes of encouraging progress. Trump chuckled uneasily, responding that June 6, 1944, "was not a good day for you."

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Unlike President Volodymyr Zelensky, who experienced public humiliation a few months ago, Merz was spared such treatment. Instead, they exchanged empty gestures of friendship, with Merz presenting Trump a golf club and a reproduction of Trump's Palatine grandfather Friedrich's birth certificate as gifts.

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Merz emerged unscathed from the event, despite some overenthusiastic back-pats, thanks to his charm offensive. However, his alleged attempt at a joke fell flat, as he tried to explain to Trump that the liberation of his country from the Nazi regime was a positive outcome of the Allied invasion. The subsequent dinner reportedly featured more balanced dialogue, with Trump even asking questions.

During their appearance, Trump praised Merz as a "respected," "good man," pledging a "great relationship with your country." Trump acknowledged Germany's increased military spending, calling it a "positive thing." Merz, in turn, hopes to become a crucial figure in Trump's European circle, supplanting the mantle from French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Given the presence of Vice President JD Vance, who had called for an end to the alleged suppression of democratic freedoms for right-wing voters in several speeches, Merz was braced for more accusations on this matter. Yet, the topic seemed to be deliberately skirted during both the presser and lunch. In an interview with CNN, Merz suggested that the U.S. now had a clearer understanding of the genuine nature of his party, the AfD.

Trump's position on Ukraine, however, remained at odds with those of his European counterparts. He compared Russia's attack on Ukraine to "little children fighting," suggesting that there should be a brief period of conflict followed by resolution. Trump showed no signs of initiating additional pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin or imposing new sanctions.

The negotiations between the U.S. and the EU concerning the looming tariffs on EU goods did not yield any meaningful progress. Time remains until July 9 to avert such tariffs, which would severely harm German industrial production. The talks are spearheaded by the EU Commission. The only concrete agreement reached during Merz's visit was that two representatives from the White House and the Chancellor's Office would handle coordination of economic relations more effectively. "The dinner was worth its weight in gold," the Chancellor reportedly said after the meeting.

The escalating dispute over export tariffs is already affecting the German economy. The outlook remains dismal, with the Bundesbank predicting a third consecutive year without growth. preliminary figures from the Federal Statistical Office indicate that German exports to the United States dropped in April to the lowest level since October 2024, after seasonal and calendar adjustments, amounting to thirteen billion euros. This represents a 6.3 percent decrease compared to the previous year.

"Now the effects of U.S. trade policy have reached us. Exports to the USA are collapsing," lamented the President of the Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade, and Services (BGA), Dirk Jandura. "The EU must urgently engage in constructive dialogue with our most significant trading partner to find solutions. Without the USA, it won't work." However, Washington has recently adopted a harder stance, doubling tariffs on imported steel and aluminum into the U.S., increasing them from 25 to 50 percent.

Sebastian Dullien, scientific director of the Institute for Macroeconomics and Conjuncture Research at the Hans-Boeckler Foundation, however, sees no reason for excessive concern about the decline in exports and production: "In total, the indicators suggest that the situation in industry is stabilizing and that we could be close to a turnaround for the better."

However, the U.S.'s trade policies could indeed have significant consequences for the German job market. The head of the Federal Employment Agency, Andrea Nahles, told the "Süddeutschen Zeitung" that she anticipates up to 90,000 jobs could be lost within a year due to U.S. tariffs, based on a study by the Institute for Employment Research. with agencies

Sources:[1] The Local[2] Spiegel Online[4] Deutsche Welle

The Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, expressed his hope for more support from the U.S. President for the cessation of the war in Ukraine, comparing it to the Western Allies' role in defeating the Hitler regime.
In a joint press conference, Trump announced Ukraine talks but showed no signs of initiating additional pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin or imposing new sanctions.
The latest general news includes coverage of car accidents, fires, and crime, as well as policy and legislation updates, such as the ongoing trade war-and-conflicts and the meetings between the U.S. and European leaders regarding policy-and-legislation on Ukraine.
Sports news features updates on football games and European leagues, such as the Premier League.
The U.S.'s trade policies are causing significant consequences for the German job market, with studies predicting up to 90,000 jobs could be lost within a year due to the imposed tariffs on imported goods.
Accidents, fires, and crime-and-justice incidents frequently make up the general-news, alongside coverage of sports events, war-and-conflicts, and policy-and-legislation updates.