The key facts

  • Friedrich Merz does not expect a fundamental shift in Trump's policy after the midterm elections
  • According to the Chancellor, Trump has governed mostly by bypassing Congress for the past two years
  • The German government stated that it will continue close cooperation with the US regardless of the configuration in the chambers of Congress

The German Chancellor's assessment

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday, November 4, that he does not expect a fundamental change in the policy of US President Donald Trump after the Republicans' defeat in the midterm elections, Anadolu reports. Speaking at an economic forum of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Berlin, he remarked: 'Even over the past two years, Trump has mostly governed by bypassing Congress. Why should it be any different now?'

Legal basis and Berlin's position

Merz emphasized that under the US Constitution the president holds a strong position and can make decisions independently of Congress — which is why, in his reasoning, the election results alone do not change the picture. Earlier, the German government had already signaled its intention to stay the course: cabinet spokesman Steffen Meyer said at a briefing in Berlin that the United States 'has been and remains an important partner and ally,' and that close cooperation would continue 'even if a different configuration emerges in both chambers.' Berlin thus separated its practical relations with Washington from the electoral outcome, which, according to Anadolu's wording, amounted to a serious setback for Trump.