The meeting, long scheduled to address the war in Ukraine and strained European Union-United States trade relations, was dramatically overtaken by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Trump’s indication that airstrikes on Iran could continue for weeks has altered the global diplomatic landscape, especially as Tehran retaliates against US bases and allies across the region.
Merz, a vocal critic of Iran’s leadership, said Germany shared in what he described as the Iranian people’s “relief” that the “mullah regime is coming to an end.”
However, he stopped short of criticising Washington and Tel Aviv over the legality of the strikes aimed at dismantling Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
Berlin, alongside Paris and London, has stated that it would only support its Gulf allies with “defensive action” against Iran, a stance that reportedly drew criticism from US officials who described Europe’s response to “Operation Epic Fury” as “soft.”
The development has placed Merz in a delicate position, balancing solidarity with Western allies while managing European caution over deepening military engagement.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that eight European countries had agreed to join France’s initiative to extend its nuclear deterrence umbrella across the continent.
Macron described Germany as a “key partner in this effort,” signalling a shift toward stronger European-led security guarantees amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
The proposal underscores increasing calls within Europe for strategic autonomy as transatlantic relations face fresh strains.
Despite ideological and stylistic differences, Merz and Trump have maintained cordial ties.
Merz, 70, a Christian Democrat known for his multilateral outlook, contrasts sharply with the 79-year-old Trump, a property magnate-turned-politician famed for his blunt rhetoric and unconventional diplomacy.
Yet the German leader has managed to avoid public rebuke from Trump, partly by responding to the former US president’s longstanding demand that European NATO members ramp up defence spending. Germany has since unveiled substantial increases in military investment.
At the Munich Security Conference in February, Merz acknowledged a “deep rift” between traditional allies and urged Washington to “repair and revive transatlantic trust together.”
During their first White House meeting last June, Merz had pressed Trump to intensify pressure on Moscow to end what he described as the “terrible” war in Ukraine.
Trump, in response, described Merz as “a very good man to deal with,” joking that he could be “difficult”, a remark widely interpreted as praise rather than criticism.
Merz has also sought to build personal rapport with Trump, highlighting his German ancestry by presenting him with his grandfather’s German birth certificate and extending an invitation to visit his ancestral homeland.
Beyond the Iran conflict, economic friction remains high on the agenda. On Trump’s sweeping tariff policies, Merz is expected to present what aides describe as the EU’s “coordinated position.”
A spokesperson said, “Businesses need planning security, and that applies on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Germany’s influential Mechanical Engineering lobby group urged Merz to leverage his relationship with Trump, “despite the current focus on the Iran war,” to secure “a comprehensive and reliable tariff agreement between the EU and the USA.”
