German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has presented a jersey of the German national soccer team to U.S. President Donald Trump as part of efforts to restore relations between the two countries.
On June 16, major German media reported that Merz met with Trump during the G7 summit held in Évian-les-Bains, France, where he gifted the jersey featuring the number '47,' symbolizing Trump’s achievements and his status as the 47th President of the United States.
On June 14, the German government also delivered a handwritten letter from Merz to the White House in honor of Trump’s birthday.
Since taking office in May, Merz has made several gestures aimed at fostering a friendly atmosphere, including gifts such as a copy of Trump’s grandfather’s German birth certificate, golf clubs, and a copy of the 1785 Prussian-American Treaty of Friendship and Commerce.
The gift of the soccer jersey is seen as an attempt to strengthen ties through the ongoing World Cup being held in the United States.
However, diplomatic tensions between the two nations appear to be lingering. Relations soured following Merz’s comments in late April, where he stated that “the U.S. is being humiliated by Iran,” coinciding with Germany’s non-cooperative stance regarding the Middle East conflict.
In response, Trump criticized Merz and announced a plan to reduce U.S. troop levels in Germany by 5,000 just four days later.
Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit next month, Merz plans to convene leaders from major European countries to discuss security burden-sharing strategies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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