Germany’s Merz slams Trump’s Europe strategy as ‘unacceptable’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s recently released National Security Strategy, calling parts of the document “unacceptable from a European perspective.”

Trump launched a blistering attack on Europe, describing it as a group of “decaying” countries led by “weak” figures, while hinting that Washington could walk away from Ukraine.

In an interview for POLITICO, Trump said he would back European political candidates who share his vision for the continent, while bashing current leaders, stating, “I think they’re weak, but I also think that they want to be so politically correct,” emphasizing that “they don’t … I think they don’t know what to do. Europe doesn’t know what to do.”

The US president repeatedly circled back to what he portrayed as Europe’s internal problems, framing them in explicitly racial terms and labeling certain unnamed European leaders as “real stupid”.

“If it keeps going the way it’s going, Europe will not be … in my opinion … many of those countries will not be viable countries any longer. Their immigration policy is a disaster. What they’re doing with immigration is a disaster. We had a disaster coming, but I was able to stop it,” he told POLITICO.

“Some of it is comprehensible, some of it is understandable. Some of it is unacceptable to us from a European perspective,” Merz told reporters during a visit to Rhineland-Palatinate, where most of the 35,000 US troops stationed in Germany are based.

Merz: Europe doesn’t need saving by Washington
Rejecting Washington’s tone, Merz said he sees “no need” for the US to “Save democracy” in Europe. “If it would need to be saved, we would manage on our own,” he stated.

The new US strategy document also signals support for ideologically aligned far-right European parties, saying their growing influence offers “great optimism.”

Merz warned that the tone and intent of the Trump-era document highlight the urgent need for greater European autonomy in foreign and security policy.

“‘America first’ is fine, but ‘America alone’ cannot be in your interest,” Merz said. “You also need partners in the world. One of those partners could be Europe. And if you can’t get on board with Europe, then at least make Germany your partner.”

His remarks echoed long-standing concerns in Berlin that US unilateralism under Trump could undermine the transatlantic alliance and push Europe to pursue more independent strategic choices.

Despite the tensions, Merz confirmed that Trump has accepted an invitation to visit Germany in the coming year, signaling a continued diplomatic relationship even amid political friction.