Merz is facing his fire test in the White House
Friedrich Merz has an advantage before meeting Trump in the White House: He knows the American business jargon. Merz worked for ten years with American consulting companies in the 2010s and has extensive experience in the culture that has shaped Trump.
Merz has also shown a test of confidence in the Trump administration. He has openly stated that Europe must be security independently of the United States, as today’s American leadership « largely ignores Europe’s fate ». This kind of clear language is unusual for a German Chancellor.
In addition, Merz has said that Europe should not make itself less than you are. He points out that the European market is vital for American tech companies.
All these statements Sounds good when you say them in Europe. It is another thing to meet Trump in the White House, and manages to avoid being hazardous.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron passed the fire test – he even managed to correct Trump in public. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was well prepared and avoided walking in the trap that Trump’s team had liked for him.
According to Merz himself, Trump is a person who does not like low posts. It is important to stay short. And let him talk.
Trump has been repeated times showed a contemptuous attitude towards Germany. His gunman Elon Musk has openly taken a stand for the extremist AFD, which is Merz’s worst enemy.
The big question for Germany is the tariffs on steel and aluminum that Trump has introduced. They pose a very big problem for the German economy – one of Merz’s main issues. The fact that Trump would agree to abolish the customs in one hand is unlikely. What it is about for Merz is to get the relationship on the right bow from the beginning.
Trump has repeatedly accused Germany of going on the US military power. At this point, he should appreciate Merz who pushed through a billion loan to renovate the German defense.
The Chancellor has, according to Spiegelcarefully studied video clips on how Trump humiliated Zelenskyj and with the help of incorrect information tried to make Cyril Ramaphosa unresponsive. He has also talked to both presidents about it.
The pressure on Merz at home is great. German media reports that Trump and Merz call each other by first name, that they have each other’s telephone numbers and that Merz is honored to spend the night in the White House’s own guesthouse. It should not be a disaster, but the Chancellor will not get anything for free.
