In an Oval Office meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the U.S. president likened the war in Ukraine — which Russia invaded in February 2022 — to a fight between two children who hate each other.
Trump and Merz began by exchanging pleasantries — Merz gave Trump a gold-framed birth certificate of the U.S. president’s grandfather Friedrich Trump, who emigrated to America from Kallstadt, Germany, and Trump called the chancellor a “very good man to deal with.”
Trump and Merz had previously spoken several times by phone since Merz took office on May 6.
On Thursday, Trump also kept the threat of sanctions on the table — but for both Russia and Ukraine.
At home, Merz’s government is intensifying a drive that his immediate predecessor, Olaf Scholz, began to bolster the German military after Russia invaded Ukraine.
WASHINGTON — While Germany’s new chancellor pleaded with President Donald Trump as the “key person in the world” who could stop the violence by applying pressure to Vladimir Putin, Trump said Thursday that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” before separating them and pursuing peace.
Meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Oval Office, the U. S. . The conflict in Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February 2022, was compared by the president to a fight between two hostile children. In a call this week, Trump told Putin that “sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart” when it comes to kids.
“I said, ‘President, maybe you’re going to have to keep fighting and suffering a lot,’ because both sides are suffering before you pull them apart, that’s what I said,” Trump remarked. “It’s evident in sports like hockey. You should wait a short while before tearing them apart after the referees let them go for a few seconds. “,”.
Despite suggesting that the two nations should prolong the conflict for a while, Trump once again condemned the carnage Thursday, marking a dramatic departure from his frequently made calls to halt the violence in Ukraine. Merz emphasized that the U.S. S. . While agreeing that “how terrible this war is,” Germany made sure to point the finger at Putin for the violence and emphasize that Germany was supporting Ukraine.
Merz stated, “We are both looking for ways to stop it very soon,” in the Oval Office. Before we arrived, I informed the president that he is the only person in the world who can effectively exert pressure on Russia at this time. “.
The two leaders met in person for the first time on Thursday, and Merz managed to spare the public from the type of made-for-TV confrontation that other world leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had to endure in the Oval Office. During their initial friendly exchange, Merz presented Trump with a gold-framed U.S. birth certificate. S. . Trump described the chancellor as a “very good man to deal with.” Trump’s grandfather, Friedrich Trump, immigrated to the United States from Kallstadt, Germany. “..”.
“I would say that he is challenging. Is that a good thing? With a subtle jab at Merz, Trump remarked, “You wouldn’t want me to say you’re easy, would you?”. “He does a fantastic job representing Germany. “.”.
Following the White House meeting, Merz informed German reporters that he had extended an invitation to Trump to travel to Germany, “his home country,” and that the two leaders “get along well on the personal level.”. “,”.
Since Merz took office on May 6, Trump and Merz had already spoken on the phone multiple times. According to German officials, a “decent” relationship between the two leaders has begun to develop. Merz stayed clear of the hostility that characterized Trump’s relationship with Angela Merkel, a former president during the Republican president’s first term.
Merz emphasizes support for Ukraine.
Merz, 69, is a conservative former rival of Merkel’s who took over her party after she retired from politics. He enters the office with a wealth of business experience.
Days after taking office, Merz has thrown himself into Ukraine diplomacy, meeting Zelenskyy in Berlin last week and visiting Kyiv with other European leaders. He has criticized the notion of “dictated peace” or the “subjugation” of Ukraine, urged more sanctions against Russia, and thanked Trump for his support of an unconditional ceasefire.
Trump also threatened sanctions on Thursday, but they would apply to both Russia and Ukraine. He stated that he has not examined any bipartisan Senate legislation that would subject Moscow to severe economic penalties, but that “they would be guided by me,” not Capitol Hill, in regards to sanctions initiatives.
“I’ll know when it’s time to stop, dot. We’re going to be extremely tough,” Trump declared. Furthermore, to be honest, it might affect both nations. Tango is a two-way street. “,”.
Merz used Friday’s anniversary of D-Day, the day that Allied forces launched the attack that started the process of freeing Europe from German occupation, to urge Trump to take the lead in bringing an end to another bloody conflict on the continent.
Merz pointed out that Germany was freed from a Nazi dictatorship on June 6, 1944, and that “America is once again in a very strong position to do something on this war and ending this war.”. “.”.
When Trump brought up D-Day, he interrupted, “That was not a pleasant day for you?”.
Back home, Merz’s administration is stepping up an effort to strengthen the German military following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that was started by Olaf Scholz, his immediate predecessor. Trump is now demanding at least 5% of GDP from allies, after he criticized Berlin during his first term for not meeting the current NATO target of 2%.
According to a White House official ahead of Thursday’s meeting, the administration plans to emphasize to Germany the importance of raising defense spending and the fact that the next NATO summit in the Netherlands is a good time to fulfill Trump’s 5 percent pledge. “I know that you’re spending more money on defense now and quite a bit more money,” Trump said in a press conference, praising Berlin. There is a benefit to that. “.
Scholz established a special fund of 100 billion euros ($115 billion) to modernize the Bundeswehr, Germany’s military, which had been neglected for many years. Although the fund will run out in 2027, Germany has achieved the 2 percent goal. By 2032, Merz has approved a plan that calls for all allies to allocate 3 percent of GDP to defense, with an additional 1 percent going toward infrastructure and other possibly defense-related needs.
Tariff issues.
Reviving Germany’s economy, which is the largest in Europe, after it shrank over the last two years is another of Merz’s top priorities. His goal is to turn it into a “locomotive of growth,” but Trump’s tariff threats could be a barrier for a nation whose exports have been a major source of strength. In 2025, the economy is currently expected to remain stagnant.
Germany sent $160 billion worth of goods to the United States. A. according to the Census Bureau, last year. Approximately $85 billion more than the U.S. A. transferred to Germany, a trade deficit that Trump seeks to eliminate.
Prior to his meeting with Trump, Merz told German reporters Thursday morning that Germany is one of the major investors in the United States. Germany is one of the few nations that invests more in the United States. In terms of foreign direct investment, we rank third. “.
The U. S. In particular, the German auto industry, which includes well-known brands like Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen, has been targeted by the president. Last year, the Germans bought $10.2 billion worth of cars and parts from the United States, while Americans bought $36 billion worth of cars, trucks, and auto parts from Germany. A. The goal of Trump’s 25% tariff on autos and auto parts is to raise the price of cars built in Germany.
Since trade talks are the responsibility of the European Union’s executive commission, Merz’s belief that tariffs “benefit no one and damage everyone” can only go so far while he is in Washington. Trump alluded to that Thursday when he stated that talks with the 27-nation bloc would largely determine the trade situation.
Trump stated that “we’ll end up hopefully with a trade deal.”. Or we’ll take some action. Let us handle the tariffs. “.”.
Trump recently postponed the implementation of a proposed 50% tariff on EU goods that was supposed to take effect this month.
