Friedrich Merts Meets Macron Today and Set for Phone Call with Trump Tomorrow

The newly elected Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merts, will engage in a phone call with the President of the USA tomorrow, Thursday, May 8. A potential meeting between the two leaders is expected to take place in June. As Friedrich Merts stated late last night during an interview with Germany’s public broadcasting channel ZDF, he plans to meet with Donald Trump, possibly on the sidelines of the NATO Summit (June 24-26) in The Hague. Mr. Merts rejected criticism from Washington regarding the classification of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an ‘extreme right-wing organization’ by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Speaking about his intended migration policy, the new Chancellor announced that this issue would be discussed during today’s (May 7, 2025) meeting in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron and subsequently in Poland with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Merts emphasized the need for a stricter migration policy and the development of a unified European strategy. Regarding Poland’s warning against violating European law by rejecting refugees, the Chancellor affirmed: ‘I have a clear stance on this. Despite differing opinions, there are ways we can discuss them. We will remain an open, free, and liberal country, including in terms of migration and labor market policies.’ However, as explained, the coalition agreement with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) agrees that illegal migration must be quickly curtailed. When questioned, Merts referred to a ‘small misunderstanding’ and reassured that his trust in SPD leader Lars Klingbeil remains unwavering. The governing coalition, he said, ‘must be judged based on its achievements in migration, the economy, and ensuring peace and freedom, and we know we must govern well to solve our country’s problems.’