Germany’s Merz confident after emerging unharmed from Trump ‘show’ – POLITICO

BERLIN — Germany’s conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz returned with confidence from Washington on Friday, expressing certainty about U.S. President Donald Trump remaining committed to Europe’s security and being open to discussion with its allies.

“My conclusion from this encounter is different from perhaps the public image,” Merz said during a business summit in Berlin, following his inaugural visit to the White House the day before. “This American government is open to discussion, listens, is prepared to accept other opinions … You can talk to them. But you can’t let them intimidate you,” he added.

Merz’s visit was broadly focused on three main topics: U.S. support for Ukraine, the future of NATO and Europe’s trade negotiations with Washington.