Merz goes to meeting with Trump: I won't take sedatives

(Patria) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, the German government announced.

"Merz and Trump will, among other things, discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and trade policy," said German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius.

Merz will travel to Washington late Wednesday evening, with the meeting with Trump scheduled for Thursday. This is, as announced, the first in-person meeting between Merz and Trump. A joint lunch and a joint press conference are also planned. Merz will, it is stated, stay at Blair House, the wing of the White House reserved for special guests.

Merz and Trump have spoken by phone several times since May 6, when the new German chancellor took office. According to German media, the two statesmen now address each other by their first names and regularly exchange messages via mobile phone.

Merz recently said in a TV interview, given how Trump has behaved towards some of his previous guests, such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, that he does not expect tense situations.

"I will not take sedatives to stay calm during talks with Trump and to have a reasonable conversation with him," Merz said.

However, he emphasized that, when it comes to content, he is intensively preparing for the meeting with the US president. During his first term, Trump did not hide his dislike for Germany, the country of his ancestors, and during a conversation in front of journalists in the Oval Office, he refused to shake hands with then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, Hina reports.