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() Germany’s new leader is set to meet President Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House, and the visit will likely include talks of Ukrainian aid and trade deals, the German government said.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s inaugural visit will include lunch and a news conference with Trump beginning at 12:45 p.m. EDT. will stream the conference from this story when it begins.
Merz and Trump have spoken several times on the phone since Merz took office May 6, but Thursday’s visit marks the first in-person meeting between the pair.
Merz has been a staunch advocate for continued support for Ukraine and offered to help the country develop its own long-range missiles against Russia. He hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin in late May.
Merz, the leader of Europe’s biggest economy, also has a high stake in Trump’s threats to impose a 50% tariff on European Union goods. Trump has paused those tariffs until July 9.
Other tariffs, like a 25% tariff on autos and parts, particularly hurt Germany’s robust automotive sector.
Merz previously said tariffs “benefit no one and damage everyone,” a potentially sparking point for tension with Trump whose previous bilateral meetings with Zelenskyy and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa devolved into showdowns in the Oval Office.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
