Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, has stated that he would not advise his children to study or work in the United States given the current social climate there. Speaking at a conference of young Catholics in Würzburg, Merz, who is often viewed as a transatlanticist, expressed his diminished admiration for America.
Merz's Remarks on the US
“I am a great admirer of America. At the moment my admiration is not growing,” Merz said during a podium discussion. He cited the rapidly changing “social climate” in the deeply polarised country as the reason for his stance. “I would not advise my children today to go to the US, get educated there or work there, simply because a certain social climate has suddenly developed there.” The 70-year-old father of three added that even the best-educated individuals in America are finding it difficult to secure employment.
Optimism for Germany
Merz urged Germans not to fall into a “disaster mode” about the state of the world and encouraged a more optimistic outlook on their homeland’s potential. “I firmly believe that there are few countries in the world that offer such great opportunities, especially for young people, as Germany,” he stated.
Reactions from Trump's Camp
The comments drew a furious response from Donald Trump’s allies. Richard Grenell, a longtime Republican foreign policy adviser and former US ambassador to Germany, posted on X that Merz had become “the European President of the TDS Society,” referring to Trump derangement syndrome. Grenell noted that when Merz met Trump at the White House in March, he was “completely soft and complimentary,” and accused Merz of lacking a strategy and being controlled by the “German woke media.”
Criticism from Far-Right
Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party, also criticised Merz. “Merz advises against travelling to the US due to the ‘political climate’. Ironically, it is a chancellor who is deliberately leading his own country towards social and economic ruin who is now pointing the finger in warning,” she wrote on social media. “This is not in Germany’s interests.”
Broader Context
Disputes over trade and military aid for Ukraine have heightened tensions between the US and European allies, testing the Nato alliance. Merz is struggling to revive Germany’s anaemic economy and has noted the damaging impact of US-Israeli military action in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on European interests. Late last month, he stunned listeners by stating that Americans were being “humiliated” by Iran’s leadership, angering Trump. Subsequently, Washington announced a partial troop withdrawal from Germany, where about 36,000 US military personnel are stationed, and imposed tariff hikes on cars imported from the EU.
Merz's Stance on Transatlantic Relations
Despite his plummeting popularity ratings, Merz has said he is “not giving up on working on the transatlantic relationship” while declining to retract his criticism of Trump. On Friday, he posted on X that he had spoken with Trump by telephone and discussed Iran, Ukraine, and the upcoming Nato summit in Ankara. “The US and Germany are strong partners in a strong Nato,” Merz said.
