Merz Canceled His Meeting with Trump After Trump Endorsed the AfD
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump that had been scheduled for September 9. This happened a few hours after Trump publicly congratulated the far-right “Alternative for Germany” on its success in the regional elections.
The phone call between Merz and Trump was scheduled for Wednesday, September 9. However, the chancellor and the U.S. president were never connected at the scheduled time. A spokesperson for Merz declined to specify the reason for the cancellation. At the same time, he specifically emphasized that it was not due to scheduling conflicts. Journalists directly asked the chancellor’s representative whether the cancellation could be linked to Trump’s recent statements about the German elections. The spokesperson did not confirm such a connection.
At the same time, he reiterated Merz’s position on foreign politicians’ interference in Germany’s internal affairs. According to him, the chancellor has repeatedly spoken out against “interference in or commentary on the internal political situation, especially regarding elections.”
Trump Congratulated the AfD on Its Success
Ahead of the planned conversation, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, in which he reacted positively to the results of “Alternative for Germany.” The U.S. president called the AfD a “populist party” and claimed that Germans were allegedly tired of the country’s immigration policies. “Wow! The populist party in Germany just had a truly great night. People are finally fed up with the absolutely terrible immigration rules and regulations that have hurt Germany so badly,” Trump wrote.
He also stated that the party is “gaining momentum” and no longer intends to put up with the current situation. At the end of his post, Trump used the acronym “MGGA.” It is associated with his famous political slogan “Make America Great Again,” but this time it refers to the variant “Make Germany Great Again.”
Berlin refrained from directly accusing Trump
A spokesperson for Merz did not say that Trump’s post was the reason for canceling the call. Nor did the spokesperson directly comment on the U.S. president’s remarks about the AfD. Thus, there is currently no official confirmation of a direct link between the two events.
At the same time, the timing of these events caught the attention of German journalists. First, Trump praised the AfD’s success, and a few hours later, it was reported that the planned phone call with Merz had been canceled. For the German government, the issue of foreign interference in elections is a sensitive one. Merz has repeatedly emphasized that other countries and their politicians should not influence Germany’s domestic politics.
What is known about the AfD
“Alternative for Germany” advocates for a stricter immigration policy and enjoys significant support among voters who oppose the country’s current course. At the same time, the party remains highly controversial in German politics. Its positions and those of some of its representatives are regularly criticized for their radical rhetoric and stance on immigration.
The U.S. president’s support for the AfD sent a clear signal to German politicians—especially given that Trump effectively publicly endorsed the success of the German right-wing populist party. It is not yet known exactly when Merz and Trump will hold another phone call. There has also been no official statement from Berlin confirming that the U.S. president’s remarks were the reason for the cancellation, according to The Guardian.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel commented on the election results in Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right party “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) achieved significant success. The CDU representative described the situation in the country as historically significant.
