Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has delivered a scathing assessment of U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing him of being “largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.”
Merz, whose conservative CDU/CSU party recently secured victory in the German elections, made the remarks as he outlined his top priority which includes strengthening Europe to reduce reliance on the United States.
“I never thought I would have to say something like this on a television program,” Merz admitted. “But after Donald Trump’s statements last week, it is clear that this administration is largely indifferent to Europe’s future.”
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His comments follow Trump’s controversial stance on the Ukraine war, including his claim that Russia did not start the conflict and his description of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator.”
Trump has also insisted that U.S. troops will not participate in any future peacekeeping efforts, further raising concerns among European leaders.
NATO’s Future in Question
Merz expressed deep concerns about the future of NATO and the role of European nations in global security.
While U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reaffirmed America’s commitment to the alliance, Trump has pressured European members to dramatically increase their defence spending.
“I am very curious to see how we approach the NATO summit at the end of June,” Merz stated. “Will we still be discussing NATO in its current form, or will we be forced to accelerate the creation of an independent European defence capability?”
With the uncertainty surrounding U.S. commitment to Europe’s security, Merz is pushing for urgent steps to bolster the continent’s defence systems. His call for action is a clear shift toward greater European self-reliance in an era of shifting global alliances.
Election Interference: A Warning to Europe
Beyond security concerns, Merz also aimed outside influences in Germany’s recent elections. He directly criticized Elon Musk’s public endorsements of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, likening it to Russian interference in Western democracies.
“I have absolutely no illusions about what is happening from America,” Merz warned. “Elon Musk’s interventions in the German election campaign were unprecedented. The interference from Washington was just as dramatic, drastic, and ultimately outrageous as the interventions we’ve seen from Moscow.”
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