On his first day in office, German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz faced criticism from the Trump administration after voicing concerns about democracy in Europe, particularly regarding increased surveillance of the opposition AFD party.
Prime Minister Merz, leader of the Central Right Christian Democrat Union (CDU), formerly led by Angela Merkel, assumed office on Tuesday after a challenging election process against the Social Democrats (SPD), forming a coalition with left-leaning parties after extensive negotiations.
In his initial interview post-inauguration, Merz addressed rising tensions between Berlin and Washington. This included trade issues and remarks from Trump officials, like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary Marco Rubio, who criticized Germany’s speech regulations and labeled the AFD as a “right-wing” group. The German government’s decision allows intelligence agencies to monitor this significant opposition party more closely.
Recently, Vice President Vance likened this decision to actions from the Soviet era, while Rubio voiced that it undermines democracy, calling it “despotism in disguise,” arguing that the only real extremism in Berlin is from their stance on immigration.
Merz responded on Wednesday, stating to Diewelt that such allegations were “absurd,” and expressed, “I’ve always felt that the U.S. could be quite clear about extremists and political centrists.”
“I didn’t interfere in the U.S. election or oppose it directly,” Merz emphasized, suggesting that the U.S. should refrain from commenting on Germany’s internal matters.
Following his party’s narrow win in February’s federal elections, Merz criticized perceived election meddling by the Trump administration, stating that their intervention was more dramatic and less brave than Moscow’s involvement.
The Prime Minister had previously hinted at using “political” or “legal” means against American business figures and Trump allies, like Elon Musk, who have openly supported the AFD on social media.
On Wednesday, Merz also expressed his intention to firmly navigate trade disputes between the EU and the U.S., aiming to represent European interests in future discussions with President Trump.
“As Europeans, we have something valuable to offer, and together we are more substantial than the United States,” he remarked. “We can make a difference. Anyway, we stand united… that will be my message to the U.S. government.”
However, it’s uncertain how much influence Merz actually wields in Berlin. His first day saw a notable setback in solidifying his authority as a leader.
Merz was confirmed later that day in a second round of voting, but this initial setback indicates potential struggles ahead, particularly in managing differences with the Social Democrats and members of his coalition.
Additionally, Merz may contend with pressure from the German business sector to pursue a swift agreement with the Trump administration, especially given the economic difficulties in sectors like automotive manufacturing that caught President Trump’s attention.
