Friedrich Merz leaves Donald Trump the stage

Before lunch in the cabinet room of the White House, the US President Donald Trump his guest from Germany a digestible aperitif in the Oval Office. Not a bitter drink, as feared by many, but sweet liqueur. The guest gift from Friedrich Merz have contributed. Had brought a gold -framed birth certificate from the grandfather of Trump Friedrich, born in the Palatinate in the Palatinate.

The US President praised his guest, who was taught by the strictly secret souvenir, who shares the instructions of his ancestor. He was a « great representative of Germany ». In conversations he turned out to be a « difficult person », but the Germans probably expected that from him. Already at the greeting at the door of the White House, Trump had signaled that this time he was not on riot. He held Merz on his arm for longer than for the photographers.

Vice President JD Vance and Foreign Minister Marco Rubio were waiting in the Oval Office, who had noticed Harscher Germany criticism in the past – and were silent. Like the guest from Berlin, who followed a monologue interrupted by reporter issues during almost 45 minutes with legs and folded hands.

Instead of attacking Germany, he spoke about his phone calls to the Chinese President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He went to his difficult relationship Elon Musk One spoke about the « beautiful, great law », which he wants to bring through the congress, but is now in danger. And sweated about the alleged abuse of the car clerk under his predecessor Joe Biden.

When asked about the increased defense efforts in Germany, there was praise. « It’s a positive thing, » said Trump. The President answers the question of a reporter whether the American troops would remain in Germany with a clear « yes ».

In his few contributions, Merz skilfully reminds of the role of the Americans on D-Day almost exactly 81 years ago and combined this with the war of Russia against Ukraine. The United States can do what it had done in the liberation of Nazi Germany at the time. America is in a « very strong position to end this war ». One has to talk about what could be done together.

In addition to Trump’s equation of Ukraine and Russia as two arguments, the Chancellor bounded politely but significantly. « My position is clear, » says Merz. « We are on the side of Ukraine. » After an answer to German, Trump praised the « liquid English » of the Chancellor, who was more than 100 times a businessman in the USA and had left the Chancellery’s translator at home.

Commentators and analysts are pleasantly surprised

According to commentators and analysts, it could hardly have been able to walk better for Merz. Especially since the expectations were modest. The democratic senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut had after the Eklats with the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj and the South African head of state Cyril Ramaphosa In their visits in the Oval Office in the run-up to the Merz visit, feared worst. He only hoped « that it will not be a national embarrassment, » warned Murphy, who is the highest democrat in the Senate’s external committee.

The signs were anything but cheap. Trump had made no secret of his aversion to Germany in the past. Again and again he accused the Germans of driving a stepboard during the defense and cupping America when trading.

At the Munich Security Conference, Vice President JD Vance had provocatively asked whether liberal Europe was still loyal to its fundamental values. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio went even further and gave Germany’s dealing with the right -wing populists of the AfD a « hidden tyranny. »

But it didn’t just remain with verbal threats. Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs to European goods, doubled the levies to steel and aluminum and thus hit German core industries. In addition, the United States has so far refused air support from a European “coalition of the willing” in Ukraine.

Merz came prepared

Merz had meticulously prepared for entering the danger zone. His team operated expectation diet and emphasized as much similarities as the joint joy of playing golf and their experience as business people. Merz phoned other European politicians such as the British Keir Strandmer, the Frenchman Emmanuel Macron and the Finn Alexander Stubb, who got out of the danger zone unscathed. Merz also obtained from the less happy visitors, Selenskyj and Ramaphosa.

On Monday, Senator Lindsey Graham, who is closely connected to Trump, wrote him in the Chancellery. The Republican recommended flattery and humans. Merz should agree with Trump’s demand for higher defense spending and assure him that « that Germany is willing to pay; that Europe is willing to endure some pain. »