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Merz meets Trump: Risky meeting in the shadow of the scandal!
Friedrich Merz meets Donald Trump in the White House on June 2, 2025. A planned meeting is canceled after an argument.
Merz meets Trump: Risky meeting in the shadow of the scandal!
On Thursday, Friedrich Merz, the chairman of the CDU, will have a delicate conversation with US President Donald Trump. The visit to the White House carries risks, especially after the recent meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 28, 2025. This meeting ended in a public dispute and is causing additional reservations among European politicians. Loud Süddeutsche.de Trump is known for his self-centered views, which increases uncertainties about his behavior in trusting international relations.
During the scandal with Zelensky in the White House, Trump was in a heated argument in which he accused the Ukrainian president of risking a third world war. The meeting, which was originally intended to seal a strategic raw materials partnership, came to an abrupt end just 40 minutes after it began. Trump questioned Zelensky's lack of gratitude and stressed that Ukraine should be grateful for US military equipment. He even threatened to abandon Ukraine in the conflict against Russia if no agreement was reached with Vladimir Putin. This incident is not only embarrassing for Zelensky, but also casts a shadow over Merkel's upcoming visit, as solidarity is required. Tagesschau.de reports that during the meeting, Vice President JD Vance supported Trump and criticized Zelensky for his behavior.
Challenges for Merz
However, Merz has the advantage of being able to draw on video footage from previous visits by other heads of state and government. These recordings could help him hit the right notes in the dialogue with Trump, which is critical for transatlantic relations. The German politician must take into account both geopolitical tensions and domestic vanities.
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky, which began peacefully, shows how quickly a seemingly friendly dialogue can turn into a confrontational argument. Trump said in a later comment on Truth Social that Zelensky could return if he was ready for peace. This suggests that the American president is less interested in diplomatic solutions than in assessing loyalty and gratitude, which poses major challenges for Merz.
The future of German-American relations depends to a large extent on the outcome of the meeting between Merz and Trump. Given the military importance of the United States for Germany, the American president remains an indispensable player in German foreign policy.