Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz says Trump is open to discussion, committed to NATO
Share this @internewscast.com

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Friday, following his meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, that he found the U.S. administration open to dialogue and came back assured that Washington is still dedicated to NATO.

Merz characterized his meeting in the Oval Office and an extended lunch with Trump as both constructive and forthright, mentioning that the leaders shared different perspectives regarding Ukraine.

“Yesterday, during our meeting at the Oval Office, I expressed a significantly different stance on the Ukraine issue compared to Trump’s, and rather than facing any opposition, we revisited the topic in detail over lunch,” Merz remarked in Berlin upon his return.

Thursday’s White House meeting marked the first time the two sat down in person. Merz, who became chancellor in May, avoided the kind of confrontations in the Oval Office that have tripped up other world leaders, including Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.

The two leaders opened with pleasantries. Merz presented Trump with a gold-framed birth certificate of the president’s grandfather, Friedrich Trump, who emigrated from Kallstadt, Germany.

Trump called Merz a “very good man to deal with.”

The American administration, he said, is open to discussion, listens, and is willing to accept differing opinions.

Add he added that dialogue should go both ways: “Let’s stop talking about Donald Trump with a raised finger and wrinkled nose. You have to talk with him, not about him.”

He said he also met with senators on Capitol Hill, urging them to recognize the scale of Russian rearmament.

“Please take a look at how far Russia’s armament is going, what they are currently doing there; you obviously have no idea what’s happening,” he said he told them. “In short, you can talk to them, but you must not let yourself be intimidated. I don’t have that inclination anyway.”

Merz, who speaks English fluently, stressed the need for transatlantic trust and said he reminded Trump that allies matter.

“Whether we like it or not, we will remain dependent on the United States of America for a long time,” he said. “But you also need partners in the world, and the Europeans, especially the Germans, are the best-suited partners.

“This is the difference between authoritarian systems and democracies: authoritarian systems have subordinates. Democracies have partners — and we want to be those partners in Europe and with America.”

He reiterated that the U.S. remains committed to NATO, particularly as Germany and others boost their defense spending. Trump has in the past suggested that the U.S. might abandon its commitments to the alliance if member countries don’t meet defense spending targets.

“I have absolutely no doubt that the American government is committed to NATO, especially now that we’ve all said we’re doing more. We’re ensuring that we can also defend ourselves in Europe, and I believe this expectation was not unjustified,” Merz said.

“We’ve been the free riders of American security guarantees for years, and we’re changing that now.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Minnesota lawmakers shot: Former President Joe Biden pays respects as Melissa, Mark Hortman, dog lying in state; Boelter in court

Former President Joe Biden Honors Minnesota Lawmakers: Melissa and Mark Hortman, along with their dog, Lie in State; Boelter Appears in Court

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Former President Joe Biden joined a large crowd…
Justice Department fires prosecutors in Capitol riot cases

Justice Department Dismisses Prosecutors Involved in Capitol Riot Cases

It’s the latest move by the Trump administration targeting attorneys connected to…
Wreckage of a small plane after a fatal crash.

Former French Army General and Couple Perish in Tragic Plane Crash as Jet Strikes Residential Area Shortly After Takeoff

THREE people have died after a plane crashed into a French neighbourhood…
Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelenskiy shaking hands.

Labour Peer Criticizes Keir Starmer for Prioritizing Party Over Country by Yielding to Benefit Cut Opponents

SIR KEIR Starmer has put “party before country” by caving to rebels…
Judge gives ‘middle finger’ to Supreme Court & Trump | Reporter Replay (Video)

Judge Defies Supreme Court and Trump with Bold Gesture | Reporter Replay (Video)

Judge Defies Supreme Court and Trump with Bold Gesture | Reporter Replay…
Rep. Elise Stefanik rumored for gubernatorial run, hits back against Hochul: ‘Worst governor in America’

Rumor Has It Rep. Elise Stefanik Is Eyeing the Governor’s Seat and Criticizes Hochul as ‘America’s Worst Governor’

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., a prominent Trump supporter who is speculated to…
Investigation into Florida condo collapse is expected to finish in 2026

Florida Condo Collapse Probe Projected to Conclude in 2026

More than four years following the collapse of a condominium in Florida…
Judge's gavel and euro banknotes representing judicial corruption.

Lawsuit Filed Against Controversial July 1 Law Cutting Benefits for US Residents: A Last-Ditch Effort to Halt the Changes

A CONTROVERSIAL new law that will take away benefits from certain US…
Hiking influencer Hannah Moody's cause of death revealed after being found dead on Arizona trail

Cause of death for hiking influencer Hannah Moody discovered after she was found deceased on an Arizona trail

Hiking influencer Hannah Moody’s cause of death has been revealed more than…
Hochul admits New York needs nuclear power — but getting it won't be easy

Hochul Acknowledges Necessity of Nuclear Power for New York, But Securing It Faces Challenges

Good news: Gov. Kathy Hochul has tapped the New York State Power…
Chicago braces for deadly July 4 weekend as Fox News analyst takes action in brother's unsolved murder

Chicago Prepares for Dangerous July 4th Weekend While Fox News Analyst Acts on Brother’s Unsolved Murder Case

Chicago is preparing for another potentially violent 4th of July weekend. Fox…
A US diocese defies trends and ordains its largest class of Catholic priests in decades

A US Diocese Bucks Trends, Ordaining Largest Class of Catholic Priests in Decades

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — They are a day away from becoming Catholic…