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German Chancellor Merz postpones call with Trump after US president congratulates far-right AfD
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has postponed a scheduled telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, originally planned to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius declined to give a specific reason but indicated the delay was not due to scheduling conflicts. The postponement is widely seen as a response to Trump's public congratulations to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on its election victory in Saxony-Anhalt. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, calling the AfD's performance 'a really big night' and using the acronym 'MGGA' (Make Germany Great Again). The German federal government has formally rejected Trump's comments, with Transatlantic Coordinator Metin Hakverdi stating, 'We Germans decide for ourselves how we deal with migration and also who we vote for. We don't need advice from the White House.' The SPD's parliamentary managing director Dirk Wiese also criticized the US president's interference in German domestic politics. The incident marks a significant diplomatic friction between Berlin and Washington, highlighting tensions over the Trump administration's sympathy for right-wing populist parties in Europe.
Source report
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has postponed a phone call with US President Donald Trump that had been planned for Wednesday. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius did not provide a reason for the delay but indicated it was not due to scheduling conflicts.
The postponement is widely believed to be linked to Trump's recent congratulations to the AfD on its election victory in Saxony-Anhalt. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "Wow, the populist party in Germany had a really big night." He concluded his message with the abbreviation "MGGA!!!" — widely interpreted as "Make Germany Great Again."
It is considered highly unusual for heads of state or government of democratic nations to comment on regional elections in other countries. The right-wing US administration under Trump has previously expressed sympathy for the AfD on multiple occasions.
Background of the Planned Call
The Merz-Trump conversation had been scheduled to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Kornelius stated that the Chancellor considered it important for the USA to know it could continue to count on the full solidarity of Germany and Europe. He noted that the transatlantic partnership had been reaffirmed at the NATO summit in Ankara.
Political Reactions
The parliamentary managing director of the SPD, Dirk Wiese, had previously called for a government response to Trump's statements:
"We have to talk about it. This interference is not possible. I don't think we as the federal government can tolerate that."
Wiese drew a comparison, suggesting that if the federal government were to welcome a Democratic victory in a US gubernatorial election, "Truth Social would be shaken by the US President."
Federal Government Rejects Trump's Remarks
The federal government has formally rejected US President Donald Trump's statements regarding the AfD's election victory in Saxony-Anhalt.
"We Germans decide for ourselves how we deal with migration and also who we vote for," said Metin Hakverdi (SPD), the Federal Government's Transatlantic Coordinator, speaking to Tagesspiegel. "We don't need advice from the White House."
Source
taz.de - taz.deWestern
Part of this Story
Trump congratulates far-right AfD on Saxony-Anhalt win, prompting German government rebuke and Merz call delay