Screensoht of Freidrich Merz addressing the Munich Security Conference.
German Chancellor Freidrich Merz has launched an attack on President Trump at the Munich Security Conference.
Merz, who is ironically one of Europe’s more conservative leaders, said that under the Trump presidency, America’s claim to global leadership “has been challenged, and possibly squandered.”
“A divide has opened up between Europe and the United States,” Merz said.
“Vice President JD Vance said this very openly here in Munich a year ago. He was right. The culture war of the MAGA movement is not ours.”
“Freedom of speech ends here with us when that speech goes against human dignity and the constitution.
”We do not believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz:
“A divide has opened up between Europe and the United States […] Freedom of speech here ends where the words spoken are directed against human dignity and our basic law. We do not believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade.” pic.twitter.com/93jzLmJxHM
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 13, 2026

Having given most his speech in German, Merz then addressed his American counterparts directly in English.
“In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone.
”Dear friends, being a part of NATO is not only Europe’s competitive advantage,” he continued. “It is also the United States’ competitive advantage.”

Listening to German Chancellor Merz is just bizarre. The Europeans live in a bizarre fantasy world.
1) He thinks German censorship of anything they disagree with is actually “free speech”. They use phrases like “human dignity”, but it really just means anything they disagree… pic.twitter.com/nx9bnbASex
— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) February 13, 2026

Together for a strong Europe. pic.twitter.com/fSLu37pQgd
— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) February 13, 2026

Meanwhile, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder accused Trump of showing disrespect toward Europe.
“We will respect your leadership,” Soder said. “But maybe you pay us a little more respect.”
Back in December, Merz denounced parts of the latest U.S. National Security strategy as “unacceptable.”
“Some of it is comprehensible, some of it is understandable,” he said at the time. “Some of it is unacceptable to us from a European perspective.”
“I see no need for the Americans to now want to save democracy in Europe.“
”If it would need to be saved, we would manage on our own.”
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