Hangin' with Trump: 7 Takeaways from 17 Hours in D.C.
Tactics Gleaned from Extensive 17-Hour D.C. Sojourn - Insights gleaned from a prolonged 17-hour sojourn in the capital, Washington D.C.
Friedrich Merz is thrilled, real thrilled, to put it mildly. After almost three hours huddled up with US President Donald Trump in the White House, followed by rounds of interviews at the magnificent Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the CDU chief offers a generally favorable review. "We've set a solid foundation for some damn good one-on-one chats and productive politicking," Merz tells ARD.
By this point, Merz's visit has largely been shoved aside in the political machinations of Washington. While Merz delves into the trade dispute, the war in Ukraine, and NATO, the city is buzzing only about one thing: the beef between Trump and his former advisor Elon Musk. So, what did Merz's marathon 17-hour sojourn in the States actually achieve, and what didn't? Let's break it down.
Merz in the thick of it, yet still a bystander
Every Oval Office guest shares a common fate: they end up feeling like extras in a movie. The opulent room, studded with gold, is Trump's stage. It's where he humiliated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and left South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hanging. Merz plays it cool but calm, but at the press conference, Europe's mightiest economy's leader is still a bit player as Trump takes center stage to rant about US domestic politics.
Merz takes it like a champ. "That wasn't a press conference, that was a show in the Oval Office," he later remarks at a business event in Berlin. For him, the ensuing lunch (steak with potatoes, cream donut, and Coca-Cola) was more significant, with speaking roles supposedly shared equally, and Trump reportedly engaged in active listening and questioning.
The chemistry between the two is palpable
The major takeaway from their maiden encounter is evident: the two have clicked. Trump was surprisingly chummy, praised Merz's English, and steered clear of barbs. He called the CDU politician a "respected" and "solid" dude, and vowed, "We'll have a rockin' relationship with your country."
Merz holds his tongue and refrains from correcting Trump's grammar during his ramblings about Elon Musk, Joe Biden, or Vladimir Putin. "Let's quit talking about Donald Trump with an eye roll and a sneer. Let's engage with him instead," he later advises.
Merz guns for a top spot as Trump's go-to guy in Europe
Currently, the role of trusted European ally in Trump's phone has been filled by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Trump's European contact number could soon belong to Merz.
Germany is no longer Trump's whipping boy
During Trump's first tenure, Germany was his favorite target of ridicule. He particularly harped on Germany's defense spending, which was lagging behind NATO targets. That tune has shifted. "I see you're pumping more funds into defense now - a lot more. That's a smart move," Trump says in the Oval Office. And there's no mention of the looming troop reduction in Germany that Trump had threatened earlier.
The powder keg remains intact
At the press conference in the Oval Office, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood beside Trump—these government members who had recently accused Germany and other European allies of restricting free speech and shunning parties like the AfD. Before his meeting with Trump, Merz had made it clear that he was ready to field accusations. He would "speak forcefully" if needed. It wasn't necessary—the topic didn't come up, neither at the press conference nor during the joint lunch. In an interview with CNN, Merz concluded that the US now perceived "the true nature of the so-called Alternative for Germany."
No major progress in the trade dispute
However, Trump and Merz didn't make significant headway in addressing issues or conflicts. The deadline to avert 50% tariffs on EU goods extends to July 9. The EU Commission is steering talks with the US. Merz could only hope to cool the waters in the States.
A tangible trade agreement to boost German-American relations was the only concrete achievement from the inaugural visit: Two representatives from the White House and the Chancellor's Office will now work together to streamline economic dealings between the countries. "The lunch was worth every penny," declared Merz.
Ukraine diplomacy falters
The encounter in the Oval Office painted a dismal picture for the Ukraine conflict. It became apparent that the US and European diplomatic efforts had failed. Trump summed it up succinctly: "Sometimes you see two little kids fighting like crazy," he said, with Merz quietly sitting next to him. "They don't want to be separated. Sometimes it's better to let them fight for a bit and then separate them."
Trump was unwilling to put added pressure on Russian President Putin through new sanctions or increased military backing—as the Europeans had demanded.
The name Kallstadt deserves recognition
There's more to come. In June, the two will first meet at the G7 summit in Canada and then at the NATO summit in The Hague. But that's not all. Trump has accepted an invitation to visit Germany, according to Merz. In his first term, he only attended the G20 summit in Hamburg. So far, there's been no official bilateral visit.
"He will come to Germany. We are now searching for a date," said Merz in an interview with RTL/ntv. The Chancellor plans to take the US President to Kallstadt on the Wine Route, the hometown of Trump's ancestors in the Palatinate, which is located in the Bad Dürkheim district. The Mayor of Bad Dürkheim, Natalie Bauernschmitt (CDU), is already eagerly anticipating the event. "Now we've made it onto the global political stage," she said to the radio station RPR1.
The specific accomplishments and unresolved issues from Friedrich Merz's 17-hour sojourn in the US and meeting with President Trump aren't extensively detailed in the given information. However, here are some key points that can be inferred:
Key Points Discussed During the Meeting
- Security and Defense Spending: Merz may have stressed the need for increased defense spending, as Trump had been critical of Germany's defense contributions. The focus could have been on aligning efforts in adhering to NATO commitments[1].
- Dialogue and Cooperation: Merz reportedly found Trump open to dialogue, implying a commitment to deepening bilateral ties. Merz was also convinced that the US remains steadfast in its commitment to NATO, which is critical to European security[2].
- Sanctions Against Russia: Merz likely advocated for presidng Trump to enforce harsher sanctions on Russia as a means of curtailing the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing the importance of synchronized action between Europe and the US[4].
Unaddressed Issues
- Detailed Economic and Trade Discussions: There is no confirmation of detailed discussions on economic or trade issues, which often constitute important aspects of such high-level interactions.
- Immigration and Travel Policies: The ongoing travel restrictions and potential implications for German-US relations weren't explicitly mentioned as topics of discussion.
- Global Security Beyond NATO: While NATO commitments were acknowledged, broader global security challenges, such as Iran's nuclear program or other geopolitical tensions, appeared to have been overlooked in favor of a more narrow focus on Ukraine[3].
Overall, while Merz's visit highlighted positive interactions between him and Trump, specific outcomes or unaddressed issues remain somewhat elusive from the given information.
- The European Union, through Friedrich Merz, is actively engaging in developing a strategy to combat terrorism, with potential financial and policy implications.
- Merz's visit to the United States offered a platform for discussion on various issues, including the war in Ukraine and NATO, but left him in a supporting role to Trump during the press conference.
- Despite the lack of progress in trade dispute resolution, Merz and Trump agreed on streamlining economic dealings between their countries.
- In diplomatic matters, Merz and Trump had a dialogue on the Ukraine conflict, acknowledging the need for separation and potential containment, but with no agreement on harsher sanctions or increased military backing. Moreover, both leaders discussed the potential for future meetings in Canada and The Hague.
