Traditionally an ally of the United States, Berlin has distanced itself from Washington since Donald Trump returned to the White House, and has been increasingly critical since the start of the war against Iran.
“Many difficulties in finding a job”
In response, the White House chief said that his counterpart was doing a “terrible” job leading Germany and announced the withdrawal of 5,000 American soldiers from the country, a long-awaited decision according to the chancellor. On Friday, Friedrich Merz claimed to be a “great admirer of the United States”, but that this admiration “is not increasing at the moment”.
“Few countries in the world offer such great prospects, especially for young people, as Germany”, he stated. He then praised “the social market economy” in contrast to the “pure capitalism” of the United States where “highly educated people have a lot of difficulty finding a job”.
The German model therefore deserves to be talked about “more in terms of opportunities than risks”, concluded Friedrich Merz. Since taking office in May 2025, the chancellor has sparked controversies with his statements, a departure from the style of his recent predecessors.
