Roll Call

Remarks: Donald Trump Holds a Bilat with Friedrich Merz of Germany

Elysee.Fr

Dplacement sur la base oprationnelle de lIle Longue.

Mij_Europe

LindseyGrahamSC

Le Monde.fr

France-Germany-UK's balancing act in response to US-Israeli offensive against Iran

BowesChay

The Irish Times

Merz abandons Germanys moral certainties as he aligns with Trump on Iran

Government of France

Strengthening Franco-German cooperation in the field of deterrence

Government of Germany

Pressestatement von Kanzler Merz in Peking

Politico

Germanys Merz sits powerless as Trump attacks European allies in Oval Office

Trump White House

President Trump And German Chancellor Merz Meet In The Oval Office 

bundeskanzler

WhiteHouse

franceintheus

Guardian

Ukraine war briefing: Merz tells Trump Ukraine must not give up more territory

Kanzler Merz besucht US-Prsident Trump

Metaculus

EU and US Cut Diplomatic Ties before 2051?

Donald Trump

Viktor Mihály Orbán

Nigel Farage

Party for Freedom (PVV)

Alice Weidel

Jordan Bardella

Maciej Duszczyk

Marshall Auerback

Paul Taylor

Cesáreo Rodríguez-Aguilera de Prat

Markus Gastinger

Sara B. Hobolt

Hans Vollaard

Jimmie Åkesson

Bruno La Maire

Jon Henley

Andrew Glencross

Marine Le Pen

"[T]he EU will have more, not fewer, members by the mid-2030s — possibly as many as 36 compared to today's 27."

"In the (very) long term we will likely see the EU grow from its current 27 states to as many as 35."

"There is no majority in any other member state in government, parliament or public opinion for a full exit from the EU."

There's "no room for complacency over the future prospects of disintegration."

"[W]e could have a referendum on 'Dexit' — a German exit from the EU" if a reform of the bloc isn't possible.

"If we do not manage migration... In some time, the EU may fall apart."

“I believe others will leave. I do think keeping it together is not gonna be as easy as a lot of people think.”

Brexit "will trigger a domino effect."

Brexit "will set off the domino effect that will bring down all of Europe."

Will Any Other Country Follow the UK in Leaving the EU?

Joe Biden

Atlantic Council

Negar Mortazavi

J Street

Abbas Araghchi

Michael Rubin

Daniel Shapiro

Kenneth Katzman

Alexander Langlois

Jim Lobe

Jean-Noel Barrot

Mohammed Ghaedi

Beto O Rourke

Ray Takeyh

Douglas London

SpecialEurasia

Ray McGovern

"Despite the heightened tensions, a full-scale war [between the U.S. and Iran] remains unlikely in the immediate term."

"Trump has been clear in his desire to resolve the issue diplomatically and avoid war [with Iran] in the Middle East."

"Despite all the hysteria of war, I'm not really seeing that on the horizon."

"It is highly unlikely that Trump will bomb Iran, not least because he vowed on the presidential campaign trail not to drag the United States into a war."

"The potential of some kind of conflict with Iran escalating into a larger regional war is very real, possibly more real than ever."

"The United States now seems close to a direct conflict that Biden (and Iran) have worked hard to avoid."

"[A] full-scale war is hardly inevitable."

"If they [Iran] don't make a deal [with the US], there will be bombing."

Will There Be a US-Iran War?

Alex Vatanka

Jeremy Bowen

Jason Brodsky

Foreign Affairs

Crisis24

Khaama Press

Nicole Grajewski

Reza Pahlavi

Dina Esfandiary

Suzanne Maloney

Arash Azizi

William Usher

Konrad Wolfenstein

“A collapse appears unlikely for now.”

"The collapse of the Iranian government remains unlikely in the near term."

"Our core assumption is that the regime will survive as long as its leaders and security forces retain the ability and willingness to suppress domestic unrest."

It's "unclear if the demonstrations would unseat the leadership, pointing to the sheer depth and resilience of Iran's repressive apparatus."

"It's going to take a few different ingredients for the regime to fall," including "defections in the security services and cracks in the Islamic republic's political elite."

"What this heralds for the Islamic Republic in the near term is neither revolution nor collapse, but rather a slow-motion metastasis that is echoing across the political establishment, the economy, and society."

"Change now looks inevitable; regime collapse is possible but not guaranteed."

"If the regime does not fall this year, it may nonetheless enter a phase of irreversible weakening—one in which future shocks could prove far more difficult to absorb."

"The regime's chances of survival have reached a critical low, and its strategy of perseverance through coercion is being tested by a population that has largely lost faith in the state's ability to govern."

"The plain fact is that the Khamenei regime’s days are numbered."

Will the Current Iranian Government Collapse?

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, marking Merz's third visit to the Oval Office. The visit comes a week after <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/german-chancellor-merz-visits-china-top-trade-partner">Merz traveled to China.</a>

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, marking Merz's third visit to the Oval Office. The visit comes a week after Merz traveled to China.

During the meeting, Trump and Merz discussed the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/us-strikes-iran-troops-killed-jets-downed">ongoing conflict with Iran,</a> with Merz stating that Germany and the U.S. were on the same page regarding the need to end the regime in Tehran. Trump thanked Merz for "helping" the U.S. in their Middle East operations.

During the meeting, Trump and Merz discussed the ongoing conflict with Iran, with Merz stating that Germany and the U.S. were on the same page regarding the need to end the regime in Tehran. Trump thanked Merz for "helping" the U.S. in their Middle East operations.

In contrast, Trump threatened to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/spain-bars-us-bases-from-iran-strikes-amid-tensions">cut off all trade with Spain</a> for not agreeing to NATO's five percent defense spending target and for not letting the U.S. use Spanish military bases, whilst also noting <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/spain-bars-us-bases-from-iran-strikes-amid-tensions">he was "not happy" with the U.K.</a> Merz claimed that Germany was trying to convince Spain to comply with NATO spending requirements.

In contrast, Trump threatened to cut off all trade with Spain for not agreeing to NATO's five percent defense spending target and for not letting the U.S. use Spanish military bases, whilst also noting he was "not happy" with the U.K. Merz claimed that Germany was trying to convince Spain to comply with NATO spending requirements.

Merz also stated that Ukraine must "preserve its territory and ... security interests," calling for Trump to increase pressure on Moscow and claiming that "there are too many bad guys in this world." He also stated that Europe will not accept a deal "negotiated over our heads" and that only a peace supported by Europe can be lasting.

Merz also stated that Ukraine must "preserve its territory and ... security interests," calling for Trump to increase pressure on Moscow and claiming that "there are too many bad guys in this world." He also stated that Europe will not accept a deal "negotiated over our heads" and that only a peace supported by Europe can be lasting.

Merz also sought to discuss trade, stating that a limit had been reached regarding what the EU can accept concerning tariffs and expressing his desire for the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/useu-strike-tariff-deal-averting-trade-war">U.S.-EU trade agreement</a> be to be implemented quickly. He claimed that an agreement with worse conditions than the one negotiated in August would not be up for debate.

Merz also sought to discuss trade, stating that a limit had been reached regarding what the EU can accept concerning tariffs and expressing his desire for the U.S.-EU trade agreement be to be implemented quickly. He claimed that an agreement with worse conditions than the one negotiated in August would not be up for debate.

This comes as France and Germany have agreed closer cooperation on nuclear deterrence, establishing a nuclear steering group for doctrinal dialogue and strategic coordination. France announced a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/france-to-expand-nuclear-arsenal-end-warhead-disclosure">new nuclear arms doctrine</a> earlier this week, including the potential stationing of nuclear assets in Germany.

This comes as France and Germany have agreed closer cooperation on nuclear deterrence, establishing a nuclear steering group for doctrinal dialogue and strategic coordination. France announced a new nuclear arms doctrine earlier this week, including the potential stationing of nuclear assets in Germany.

Roll Call #

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Le Monde.fr #

The Irish Times #

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Government of Germany #

Politico #

Trump White House #

Guardian #2887

Metaculus #

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, marking Merz's third visit to the Oval Office. The visit comes a week after <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/german-chancellor-merz-visits-china-top-trade-partner">Merz traveled to China.</a>

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, marking Merz's third visit to the Oval Office. The visit comes a week after Merz traveled to China.

Merz also stated that Ukraine must preserve its territory and security interests, calling for Trump to increase pressure on Moscow and claiming that "there are too many bad guys in this world." He alleged that Europe will not accept a deal negotiated over their heads and that only a peace supported by Europe can be lasting.

Merz also stated that Ukraine must preserve its territory and security interests, calling for Trump to increase pressure on Moscow and claiming that "there are too many bad guys in this world." He alleged that Europe will not accept a deal negotiated over their heads and that only a peace supported by Europe can be lasting.

This comes as France and Germany have agreed closer cooperation on nuclear deterrence, establishing a nuclear steering group for doctrinal dialogue and strategic coordination. This is part of France's announcement of a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/france-to-expand-nuclear-arsenal-end-warhead-disclosure">new nuclear arms doctrine</a> earlier this week, including the potential stationing of nuclear assets in Germany.

This comes as France and Germany have agreed closer cooperation on nuclear deterrence, establishing a nuclear steering group for doctrinal dialogue and strategic coordination. This is part of France's announcement of a new nuclear arms doctrine earlier this week, including the potential stationing of nuclear assets in Germany.

Merz has abandoned Germany's morals and adherence to international law to curry favor with Trump, degrading European values into mere bargaining chips. Despite rhetoric of strength and independence, the chancellor sits silently while Trump bullies continental allies, proving Europe is being led by spineless opportunists willing to discard decades of principled diplomacy.

Merz has abandoned Germany's morals and adherence to international law to curry favor with Trump, degrading European values into mere bargaining chips. Despite rhetoric of strength and independence, the chancellor sits silently while Trump bullies continental allies, proving Europe is being led by spineless opportunists willing to discard decades of principled diplomacy.

Chay Bowes

Merz deserves praise for recognizing that Iran's terrorist regime must go and standing firmly with protestors seeking freedom. His tactical approach secures Germany's vital security relationship with America while acknowledging geopolitical reality. This is strong leadership that history will vindicate, showing strategic pragmatism in protecting German interests during dangerous times.

Merz deserves praise for recognizing that Iran's terrorist regime must go and standing firmly with protestors seeking freedom. His tactical approach secures Germany's vital security relationship with America while acknowledging geopolitical reality. This is strong leadership that history will vindicate, showing strategic pragmatism in protecting German interests during dangerous times.

Mujtaba Rahman

Lindsey Graham

There is a 4% chance that the U.S. and the EU, or one of its member states, will cut diplomatic ties before 2051, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 4% chance that the U.S. and the EU, or one of its member states, will cut diplomatic ties before 2051, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

The 2025-2026 Iran Protests

The US-Iran Conflict

German Chancellor Merz Meets Trump in Washington

Kay Nietfeld/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

German Chancellor Merz Meets Trump in Washington

Germany

Middle East

Politics

United States of America

Merz has abandoned Germany's morals and adherence to international law to curry favor with Trump, degrading European values into mere bargaining chips. Despite his rhetoric of strength and independence, the chancellor sits silently while Trump bullies continental allies, proving Europe is being led by spineless opportunists willing to discard decades of principled diplomacy.

Merz has abandoned Germany's morals and adherence to international law to curry favor with Trump, degrading European values into mere bargaining chips. Despite his rhetoric of strength and independence, the chancellor sits silently while Trump bullies continental allies, proving Europe is being led by spineless opportunists willing to discard decades of principled diplomacy.

Merz deserves praise for recognizing that Iran's terrorist regime must go and standing firmly with protestors seeking freedom. His tactical approach secures Germany's vital security relationship with America while acknowledging the geopolitical reality. This is strong leadership that history will vindicate, showing strategic pragmatism in protecting German interests during dangerous global times.

Merz deserves praise for recognizing that Iran's terrorist regime must go and standing firmly with protestors seeking freedom. His tactical approach secures Germany's vital security relationship with America while acknowledging the geopolitical reality. This is strong leadership that history will vindicate, showing strategic pragmatism in protecting German interests during dangerous global times.

German Chancellor Merz Meets Trump in Washington

German Chancellor Merz Meets Trump in Washington

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Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

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Prat

Vollaard

Glencross

Weidel

Duszczyk

Trump

Farage

Pen

SpecialEurasia

Shapiro

Takeyh

Ghaedi

Lobe

Council

London

Trump

Esfandiary

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German Chancellor Merz Meets Trump in Washington

German Chancellor Merz Meets Trump in Washington

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

Taylor

Prat

Vollaard

Glencross

Weidel

Duszczyk

Trump

Farage

Pen

SpecialEurasia

Shapiro

Takeyh

Ghaedi

Lobe

Council

London

Trump

Esfandiary

Crisis24

ISW

Brodsky

Vatanka

Press

Wolfenstein

Affairs

Go Deeper

Articles on this story

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