A Pleasant Surprise: The White House Embraces Friedrich Merz's Server
An Article by Sylvio Dahl
White House shows affinity for Friedrich Merz with uncommon heart emoji
In the realm of politics, it's not always bad. Sometimes, it's downright good, as Friedrich Merz recently found out during his Washington trip.
Even the journey was surprising: The Aircraft from the flight readiness department transported the German Chancellor punctually and without incident to the U.S. capital. A layover on Greenland wasn't necessary. The president could have misconstrued that as an attempt at micromanagement. But all went well.
The Unpredictable Dance
Politics can be unpredictable, and schedules sometimes change. When they do, tension mounts. On this occasion, there was no preliminary meet-and-greet. Instead, Merz was thrust into the whirlwind of the Oval Office - Trump's private stage.
The Chancellor was well-prepared for this meeting. However, even the best cannot predict earthquakes or hurricanes exactly. What if Trump Jr. hadn't taken his antipsychotics? Or if they showed videos of Reich citizens driven out of Germany? Or brought up stories about AfD pariahs surviving on dog and cat meat in Saxony because migrants were looting supermarkets?
But it all turned out differently. Friendly, respectful, harmonious. From the get-go, Friedrich Merz presented the birth certificate of Grandpa Friedrich Trump from the Palatine town of Kallstadt. That's an astute gift: not overtly extravagant, but personally heartfelt. The gift was well-received; the White House even offered a rare emoticon in return. Otherwise, Merz let Trump Jr. dominate the stage.
Yes, Merz had luck at this critical meeting. The journalists asked about Xi Jinping (not present), Trump rambled about his ex-best-buddy Elon (not present), and eventually praised Merz (present) as the "great" Chancellor of the Germans. A compliment from the unpredictable Donald is indeed a victory.
When It Gets Serious, Merz Stands His Ground
When it comes to Russia's war against Ukraine, Merz showed backbone and tact. Trump, as usual, downplayed the situation: "Russians and Ukrainians are squabbling like children in a park." That warrants a response. Openly contradicting him isn't the moves of a smart politician. Friedrich Merz contradicted without contradicting. He didn't engage with the comparison, emphasized the shared desire for peace, and then spoke forcefully about Russia's atrocities in this war, the bombs against civilians, and the kidnapped Ukrainian children. And Merz made it clear where Germany, and the free world, stands in this war. Trump didn't clap, but he didn't contradict either.
A Diplomatic Gesture
Experts and media had compiled a long list of tasks for Friedrich Merz before D-Day in D.C.: to form an alliance with the unpredictable Donald, bring about countless changes of mind in him, and settle myriad disputes[1][2][3]. That's a tall order for an 110-minute planned visit. Merz may not have resolved everything, even during lunch. But it appears a foundation has been laid.
Critics now say: Merz offers symbolic politics, no substance. This critique comes early. The German Chancellor has only been in office for a month. Since then, foreign policy has been his top priority: Merz in Paris, Warsaw, Brussels, Kyiv, Tirana, Rome, Lithuania, Finland, and now Washington[4]. The sheer number of flight miles doesn't, by itself, suggest well-thought-out and effective foreign policy action. However, it's clear: this Chancellor sets the right priorities. He's working tirelessly to maintain a balanced external environment and make sure Germany doesn't stand alone. Not bad for a short time in office.
[1] Handelsblatt, June 7, 2025. [2] Spiegel Online, June 7, 2025. [3] FAZ, June 7, 2025. [4] NTV.de, June 15, 2025.
- Friedrich Merz
- Donald Trump
- Washington
- NATO
- USA
- Trade tensions
- Ukraine
The Commission, in its role as a collective consultant on national and international matters, has also been consulted on the draft budget concerning the ongoing visits and negotiations with foreign leaders, such as Friedrich Merz's trip to Washington.
The unexpected success of Friedrich Merz's diplomatic visit with Donald Trump in Washington has been a topic of general news, illustrating the volatile and unpredictable nature of politics on the global stage.
