Some European Allies Fear Trump Is Out to Destroy Them

Some European Allies Fear Trump Is Out to Destroy Them

During his first term in office, President Trump described the European Union “as a foe,” established “to hurt the United States on trade.” He repeated the charge at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, but in more vulgar terms: “The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States. …

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German Election 2025: Friedrich Merz Appears Poised to Be Next Chancellor

German Election 2025: Friedrich Merz Appears Poised to Be Next Chancellor

Germans voted for a change of leadership on Sunday, handing the most votes in a parliamentary election to centrist conservatives, with the far right in second, and rebuking the nation’s left-leaning government for its handling of the economy and immigration. The results almost certainly mean the country’s next chancellor will …

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Angela Merkel Is Retired. But She’s Still on the Ballot.

Angela Merkel Is Retired. But She’s Still on the Ballot.

A chorus of criticism greeted Friedrich Merz, the favorite to become Germany’s chancellor, last month when he broke a taboo against working with a hard-right party to pass legislation. But it was a lone voice of dissent that rocked the country’s political scene: Angela Merkel, the once-beloved former chancellor, who …

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German Opposition Gambles With Far-Right on Immigration, and Loses

German Opposition Gambles With Far-Right on Immigration, and Loses

The man who has been heavily favored to become Germany’s next chancellor took an extraordinary gamble this week, both for his political future and his country’s longstanding firewall against political extremism. It did not go as he hoped. In an effort to portray himself and his party as tough on …

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