German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump was overshadowed by the drama surrounding Trump and Elon Musk. Merz had arrived in D.C. with a full agenda that ranged from strengthening relations between the U.

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday, a day after meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, that he encountered a U.S. administration open to discussion and returned confident that Washington remains committed to NATO.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz successfully navigated a 40-minute meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office without falling victim to the public humiliation the American president has doled out to other leaders — even though both Germany and Europe are two of Trump’s perpetual irritants.