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Merz in Washington: Chancellor is looking for a connection to Trump despite the storm on the Capitol
Friedrich Merz talks about Trump and the political tensions before the Chancellor's visit to Washington, D.C. on June 5, 2025.
Merz in Washington: Chancellor is looking for a connection to Trump despite the storm on the Capitol
Friedrich Merz, the chairman of the CDU, had already emphasized in November 2020 that he would get along with Donald Trump. At this point, Merz was aiming to become CDU leader, but had failed in his first attempt. His statement caused mixed reactions within the CDU at the time, as some members saw it as a trivialization of Trump's behavior. These concerns were fueled by Trump's refusal to acknowledge his election loss to Joe Biden and the storming of the Capitol. These events confirmed the doubts of many CDU members about Trump's presidency.
Political actors in Berlin are currently hoping that the Chancellor can hold a constructive dialogue with the US President during his upcoming visit to Washington, D.C. However, the context of his visit is overshadowed by historic events that took place on January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to prevent the formal certification of Joe Biden's election victory.
The effects of the storming of the Capitol
The storming of the Capitol had serious consequences: five people died and 140 police officers were injured. As a result, almost 1,500 people were charged for their roles in the riots. Michael Sparks was one of the first to break into the building and was sentenced to 53 months in prison and a $2,000 fine in March 2024 for resisting state authority and breach of the peace. A judge in Washington described it as a “green light” for following demonstrators.
Trump himself is currently facing four charges for his role in the events of January 6, 2021. His continued false statements about election fraud and the events at the Capitol have not only political but also legal consequences.
The Chancellor's upcoming visit to Washington, D.C. is therefore not only accompanied by political expectations in Germany, but also by a strong historical background that continues to influence German-American relations.