Merz meets Trump: tensions and new tariffs in the USVAL Office!

Merz meets Trump: tensions and new tariffs in the USVAL Office!

Washington, D.C., USA - On June 4, 2025, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) traveled to the White House for a visit to US President Donald Trump, who is known for his unconventional manners with foreign visitors. Two weeks ago, Trump had made false allegations on the genocide of white people to the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Previously in February, he humiliated the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, which further burdened the complicated relationship between the USA and Ukraine. Merz flew from Berlin on Wednesday evening to this remarkable inaugural visit.

In the Oval Office, Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The latter two recently criticized the AfD classification as right -wing extremist. Merz, on the other hand, spoke out against foreign interference in German domestic politics, while Trump has often attacked Germany in the past. This applies in particular to German defense spending and migration policy. In a historically tense relationship there was no bilateral visit from Germany during Trump's term.

Current geopolitical topics

A central topic will be the situation in Ukraine. Russia's attacks against Ukraine continue to be unabated, and Trump has promised new sanctions. He calls on both Russia and Ukraine to immediately take negotiations in order to find a peace solution. At the same time, the US government announced that it would consider comprehensive banking sanctions until a ceasefire is reached. Security expert Christian Mölling emphasized that Trump could run the risk of losing control in this crisis and that Europe may have to militarize.

Trump is under pressure to take clear measures against Russia, since military support for Ukraine is currently stuck in the US Congress. According to reports from ZDF , the changed rhetoric to Russia has been remarkable since taking office: he threatens with new sanctions and expresses that it is increasingly difficult with Ukraine negotiate. This is in stark contrast to his previous admiration for Vladimir Putin, even if he condemns Russia's aggressive acts in Ukraine.

sanctions and economic tensions

The US government has already announced a comprehensive sanction package against Russia, including measures against the country's military-industrial complexes. The recent events, such as the death of the regime critic Alexej Nawalny, contributed to tightening the sanctions. Trump is determined to increase the price of Putin's aggression, but at the same time thinks of possible economic negotiation strategies. Meanwhile, the European Union has also decided a new sanction package against Russia Tagesschau reported.

Another discussion point should be the increase in US tariffs to steel and aluminum by 50 percent and the threat of punitive tariffs against EU imports. Merz plans to increase German defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product, which was praised by US defense minister Peter Hegseth. Nevertheless, Merz is criticized with his double morality after he had described Trump as a threat to democracy and clearly spoke out against Vance's statements about European deficits in democracy and freedom of expression.

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