U.S. President Donald Trump and Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, had a surprisingly friendly and calm meeting at the White House. They talked about important issues like the war in Ukraine, trade, and NATO troops, but unlike some past meetings with world leaders, this one went smoothly.
Trump called Merz a strong representative for Germany, saying he was "difficult", but meant that as a compliment. He also confirmed that U.S. troops would stay in Germany, and praised Germany for committing to spend more on its military.
Merz wanted to keep things peaceful and professional. He admitted that the Nordstream 2 pipeline with Russia (which Trump had opposed) was a mistake. He also said Germany wants to strengthen its ties with the U.S.
Both leaders seemed to get along well. Merz thanked Trump for hosting him at the Blair House and even shared a light-hearted moment by posting a picture of them hitting a golf ball in the Oval Office. Trump was especially touched when Merz gave him a historical gift: a copy of his grandfather's German birth certificate from 1869.
Still, there were tensions under the surface, especially on trade. Trump said he's fine with either reaching a deal with the EU or putting tariffs in place. Merz wasn't expecting big breakthroughs, but after the meeting, he said he was very pleased and felt he could build a strong personal relationship with Trump.
Merz also confirmed that Trump accepted his invitation to visit Germany.
Trump made it clear that U.S. troops will stay in Germany and said the country didn't need to go overboard with defense spending because of its World War II history. Still, Merz supports Trump's push for NATO members to increase military spending- Germany has even agreed to raise it to 5% of its economic output, which earned praise from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
This meeting was important because U.S. relations with Europe have been tense recently. Trump’s team has gotten involved in European politics more than previous administrations, backing right-wing groups and criticizing European policies. Merz, aware of the risks, had consulted with other leaders beforehand on how to handle Trump without triggering conflict.
Interestingly, some potentially controversial topics, like Trump's past criticism of Germany's treatment of the far-right party AfD didn’t come up. Merz later said the issue is settled and reminded U.S. officials that Germany is a mature democracy that doesn't need outside lectures.
Jeff Rathke, an expert on U.S.-Germany relations, noted that even though there are big differences between the two countries, the meeting went about as well as it possibly could have.
Kazakhstan and Germany have agreed to expand cooperation in critical minerals, industry, energy and transport, with Astana seeking a greater German...
Global cholera deaths reached their highest annual level in more than 20 years in 2025, despite a decline in reported cases, according to the World...
Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom has proposed building a new 1,000-megawatt nuclear power unit in Armenia as Yerevan weighs competing inte...
A Russian guided aerial bomb has struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring 22 people, including children, according to the city’s mayor. The strike follows a day of near-continuous Russian attacks across Ukraine that killed at least five people.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
The European Union's decision to simultaneously advance accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania marks its most ambitious enlargement effort in more than two decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that Brexit has done more harm than good, while reaffirming support for Ukraine and NATO as he used his first Labour conference speech as leader to set out a new direction for Britain.
The arrival in South Korea of two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia has created a rare legal, diplomatic and humanitarian case, raising questions over their status, security and future.
At midnight on 30 September, the last U.S. troops are due to leave Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and cost the lives of around 4,500 American service members.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 29 September 2026, with the latest from Azerbaijan, from $10.8 billion in investment deals and Formula 1 drama to diplomacy and preparations for major FIFA tournaments.
Crude oil exports from major Middle Eastern producers rebounded in September to their highest level since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in late February, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment