German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet United States President Donald Trump for the first time since taking office earlier this month.
The leaders will meet in the White House on Thursday and are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, the Middle East and trade policy, German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said in an emailed statement.
Merz will travel to the U.S. capital a day ahead of the meeting, according to broadcaster n-tv. The meeting will followed by a lunch and a press conference, according to the report.
The new German chancellor has clashed publicly with members of the Trump administration over their interference in German politics.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance both attacked Berlin over the German intelligence agency’s labelling of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a “proven right-wing extremist organization.” Trump ally Elon Musk has been among the AfD’s highest-profile boosters internationally.
In response, Merz said U.S. officials should butt out. “We have largely stayed out of the American election campaign in recent years, and that includes me personally,” Merz said. The chancellor added he had told U.S. officials: “We have not taken sides with either candidate. And I ask you to accept that in return.”
Chris Lunday contributed to this report.
