Friedrich Merz, front-runner to become Germany’s next chancellor, called incoming US President Donald Trump a “very predictable leader” with a clear agenda who’ll force Europe to carry out necessary reforms more quickly.

Opposition leader Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to become Germany's next chancellor, said the second presidency of Donald Trump would bring clarity for the European Union as he hosted conservative EU heavyweights in Berlin.

German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has spoken out about US President-elect Donald Trump. He noted that the future American leader is "very predictable," Bloomberg reports. Merz said that Trump is a "very predictable leader" with a clear agenda that will force Europe to implement necessary reforms faster.

Friedrich Merz, the German conservative who is the front-runner to become the next chancellor, downplayed a remark by US President-elect Donald Trump calling for NATO members to more than double defense spending.