Germany’s Merz cancels phone call with Trump after social media post celebrating AfD win
German leader Friedrich Merz cancelled an upcoming phone call with US President Donald Trump following a social media post where Trump celebrated a landslide election win by the far-right Alternative for Germany party using the slogan Make Germany Great Again. The diplomatic snub highlights growing friction between Berlin and Washington over foreign interference and the rise of nationalist political factions in Europe. Concurrently, regional security tensions escalated as a Russian drone strike killed two people at the Starokozache border checkpoint connecting Ukraine and Moldova, halting local crossing operations.
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- ✓ Friedrich Merz cancelled a phone call with Donald Trump hours after the US president celebrated the AfD's election win on social media.
- ✓ Donald Trump congratulated the far-right AfD on a landslide win using the phrase Make Germany Great Again.
- ✓ A Russian drone attack killed two people at the Starokozache border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova.
What changed
Friedrich Merz officially called off his scheduled telephone conversation with Donald Trump in direct response to the American president's public endorsement of the AfD.
Live updates
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Germany Cancels Trump Call After AfD Post
German leader Friedrich Merz cancelled an upcoming phone call with US President Donald Trump following a social media post where Trump celebrated a landslide election win by the far-right Alternative for Germany party using the slogan Make Germany Great Again. The diplomatic snub highlights growing friction between Berlin and Washington over foreign interference and the rise of nationalist political factions in Europe. Concurrently, regional security tensions escalated as a Russian drone strike killed two people at the Starokozache border checkpoint connecting Ukraine and Moldova, halting local crossing operations.
Why it matters
The cancellation of high-level diplomatic contact exposes deep political sensitivities in Germany regarding foreign validation of far-right extremist movements. Donald Trump used social media to praise the Alternative for Germany party following their recent electoral success, triggering swift retaliation from Berlin. This political fallout coincides with an expanding regional security threat on Europe's eastern frontier, where deadly cross-border strikes continue to impact critical transit infrastructure.
What is confirmed
- Friedrich Merz cancelled a phone call with Donald Trump hours after the US president celebrated the AfD's election win on social media.
- Donald Trump congratulated the far-right AfD on a landslide win using the phrase Make Germany Great Again.
- A Russian drone attack killed two people at the Starokozache border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova.
What to watch next
- Any official diplomatic statement from Washington regarding the cancelled call
- Further reactions from German political parties concerning foreign interference in local elections
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (11)
- www.theguardian.com — ‘Russia’s frontline moving west,’ Moldova’s president warns after border checkpoint attack – Europe live
- theguardian.com — Germany’s Merz cancels phone call with Trump after social media post celebrating AfD win – Europe live
- Al Jazeera — Russian drone attack kills two at Ukraine-Moldova border crossing
- Reuters — Russian drones kill two at Ukraine-Moldova border crossing, officials say
- BBC — Russia and Ukraine exchange strikes as two killed at Moldova border
- Українська правда — Russians attack border crossing with Moldova: civilians killed, operations halted
- Axios — Trump calls to Make Germany Great Again. In Germany, nostalgia carries a dark past.
- The Telegraph — Merz snubs Trump after US president backed AfD
- Haaretz — Trump Congratulates Far-right AfD on Landslide Win: 'Make Germany Great Again!'
- ua.news — Germany reported that the phone call between Merz and Trump had been canceled
- www.yahoo.com — Merz snubs Trump after US president backed AfD
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