Inside visit to Washington: A tamer Trump flatters Merz in the Oval Office

US President Donald Trump surprisingly greeted Chancellor Friedrich Merz when he visited his inaugural visit to the White House. He described the CDU politician in his office, the Oval Office, as “respected” and “good man” and promised: “We will have a great relationship with her country”.

There was even praise for the German efforts in the defense area, which were previously sharply criticized by Trump. And the allegations of high-ranking representatives of the US government, Germany, restricted freedom of expression and border from parties such as the AfD was not discussed. Merz was prepared to reject them.

A special gift

Most of the questions in the Oval Office went to Trump, Merz was sitting next to it most of the time and avoided driving the US president into the parade. “We have so many similarities in our history. We owe a lot to the Americans, we will never forget that,” he said, also dealing with its German origin.

He also brought a gift, gold -framed and quite large: the copy of a historical birth certificate from Trump’s grandfather Friedrich, who was born in Kallstadt in the Palatinate in 1869 and later emigrated to the USA. Merz presented the souvenir right from the start. “It’s beautiful,” replied Trump. “We’ll hang that.”

A mild tuned host

Trump was friendly at the encounter, made Merz compliments for his good English and largely clung possible controversial topics. In the important topics of the meeting – such as Ukraine and defense spending – he struck conciliatory tones.

The Chancellor won “a great choice”, said the Republican. Merz was “difficult,” Trump joked, but he was a great representative of Germany. The otherwise aggressive US president, who often reports with provocations or derogatory comments on his counterpart, presented himself particularly tame.

Trump with “nobody friends” – except Merz

With a view of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, he said in one place: “I am not friends with anyone.” Then he turned to Merz with a gesture and added: “We are friends.”

For the CDU politician, the visit to Trump was also a test at the start of his chancellery. The US President has hit other guests violently in encounters in the Oval Office in recent months. For the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, the meeting there became deep humiliation at the end of February at the end of February, which still has an impact on today. The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also demonstrated Trump at a meeting in his office and tried to emphasize his accusation of a “genocide” of white farmers with a video.

That is why Merz also came with modest expectations: getting to know each other, getting a feel for how the counterpart ticks, and at best build a wire to the most powerful man in the world. So far, French President Emmanuel Macron or the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have been the main contact in Europe for Trump. Now Merz wants to slip into a leadership role. Its telephone number should ideally become that of Europe.

Merz: Trump accepts invitation to Germany

According to Merz, Trump wants to reply the visit. The Chancellor had already invited him to Germany in her first phone call. The US President did not comment on the cameras-but Merz later said in an ARD “focus” that Trump accepted the invitation. “He will come to Germany. We are now looking after an appointment,” he said RTL/NTV.

With a view of his gift for Trump for Trump, Merz said: “That obviously touched him very much, he always came back to it.”

In Kallstadt in the Palatinate, Trump’s grandfather grew up – like Merz a Friedrich – before going to the USA in 1885. Among other things, he worked as a hairdresser, became an American citizen in 1892 and called himself Frederick. When he wanted to return to Kallstadt, the authorities there refused to do so. He did not properly deregistered on his departure in 1885, it said. The fact that there is currently a ban on entering Germany in Trump’s family history, which is currently having a hard deportation policy and entry restrictions, an entry ban to Germany.

Critical topics excluded

At the press, Vice President JD Vance and Foreign Minister Marco Rubio were also on the side of the President – those government members who most recently accused Germany and other European allies on circumcision of freedom of expression and the exclusion of parties such as the AfD. Before visiting Washington, Merz had made it clear that he considered the criticism from the USA to be “attacking”.

At the meeting in the White House, the delicate topic was not discussed. A journalist tried to ask about it, but did not get through. Around 50 media representatives were gathered in the Oval Office.

Merz appeared in the White House without an interpreter – a confidence -building measure. However, the Chancellor had given advice from several heads of state and government who were already at Trump: from Selenskyj, Ramaphosa, the Italian head of government Giorgia Meloni, or Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

What was the top topic of the visit?

The efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Merz took the top among the Europeans, but was recently frustrated about lack of progress. Trump sees Merz on his side. Just like him, Merz would like to see that the fights stopped, said the Republican. Both of them are unhappy that this is currently not emerging. But at any point the “bloodshed” will come to an end. The question of whether he was willing to impose new sanctions against Russia once again left open.

Trump has not yet revealed how he stands for a corresponding draft law from the congress, where the impatience also grows. After a new phone call with Putin the day before Merz ‘visit, Trump explained that he saw no chance of an immediate peace. The Republican has so far not been able to do much for the fact that he always brows himself to the Kremlin boss and bragged for a long time that he could end the war within 24 hours.

What was discussed with a view to the NATO summit?

Another important topic between Germany and the USA is defense spending within NATO. Trump had criticized Germany violently for insufficient armaments investments in his first term. This time he was benevolent. “I know that you are now spending more money on defense – and quite a bit more. That is a positive thing,” said Trump.

At the end of June, the heads of state and government of the military alliance come together in the Hague and will talk about their defense spending, among other things. Trump demanded expenditure of five percent of gross domestic product from the allies. NATO general secretary Mark Rutte then created a compromise formula: 3.5 percent for the military and 1.5 percent for infrastructure such as streets or ports that can be relevant for defense.

Merz has joined this proposal and has already accommodated Trump very much. It has to be shown whether the republican’s creative invoice is sufficient in the end. The president did not comment on this at the meeting with Merz.