BERLIN, GERMANY — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s harsh criticisms of European immigration policy, asserting that Germany has already made a major “course correction” that has significantly reduced asylum seeker numbers.
Speaking from Berlin following a meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Merz directly addressed the rhetoric coming from Washington, including a bleak assessment of Europe’s migration and democratic health in the new U.S. national security strategy.
Merz stated he does not believe President Trump’s recent tirade against European migration policies in an interview with Politico applies to Germany, thanks to his administration’s shift in focus.
“I will tell him [President Trump] at the next opportunity, when we meet, that we are having great success with it,” Merz said. “We have been able to roughly halve the number of asylum seekers in Germany, and I assume he will acknowledge that we have made a course correction in this area, which has indeed been a significant burden for us in Germany.”
The Chancellor confirmed he has repeatedly informed Trump about his government’s new, stricter asylum and migration policies since their first meeting in June 2025. The comments suggest that Merz hopes Germany’s policy changes which focus on reducing irregular migration and strengthening border controls will insulate Berlin from the widespread European criticism emanating from the White House.
Merz’s comments were a direct response to a new U.S. national security strategy, released late last week, which painted a concerning picture of Europe. The document included warnings about Europe facing “civilizational erasure” due to mass migration, as well as criticisms regarding the state of democracy and freedom of expression on the continent.
The strategy, which calls for the U.S. to help Europe “correct its current trajectory,” has been viewed by many European leaders as an insulting and unwelcome intrusion into their domestic affairs. Trump himself has called Europe “weak” and “decaying” over its handling of migration.
Despite the escalating rhetoric, Merz affirmed that the United States remains a vital partner. He stressed that Germany is prepared to cooperate with Washington even if President Trump harbors skepticism towards the structure of the European Union.
“I hope that America sees it the same way from its perspective towards Europe and also towards Germany.”
“The United States remains a partner,” the Chancellor concluded.
