Germany’s Merz sits powerless as Trump attacks European allies in Oval Office

(James Angelos and Nette Nöstlinger – Politico) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has worked hard to curry favor with U.S. President Donald Trump. But their Oval Office meeting on Tuesday begged two important questions: How far is Merz willing to go to stay on Trump’s good side — and at what political cost? The conservative German chancellor sat deferentially and mostly silent as Trump threatened to “embargo” Spain for not spending more on defense and for condemning U.S. strikes on Iran. Nor did Merz respond when Trump attacked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on an array of issues — “this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with” — and threatened to escalate his trade war with Europe. – Germany’s Merz sits powerless as Trump attacks European allies in Oval Office – POLITICO