Merz’s applause line for a Catholic conference

“I am a great admirer of America,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday at a gathering of German Catholics in the southwestern city of Würzburg, adding, “but right now my admiration is not increasing.” He added that, given the worsening social climate in America, he would no longer recommend moving to the U.S. for work or study. Merz’s statement was met with loud applause. While few Germans are currently satisfied with Merz’s work, which is increasingly met with boos at events, his anti-American rhetoric finds resonance. This opposition to the U.S. will help unify Germany and accelerate its development as a rival superpower.