Merz says he would not advise children to go to US

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press
WÜRZBURG, Germany — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would not currently advise his children to go to the United States to study or work, citing concerns over the country’s social climate.

According to DW Türkçe, Merz made the remarks during a Catholic Day event in Würzburg, where he addressed an audience largely made up of young people. The Christian Democratic Union leader said he often tends to think about the state of the world in “catastrophe mode,” but argued that Germans should feel more optimistic about their own country’s potential.

Merz warned young people about the US

Merz said few countries in the world offer as many opportunities for young people as Germany.

Speaking about education and work prospects abroad, the German chancellor said he would not currently recommend the United States as a destination for his own children.

“Right now, I would not advise my children to go to the United States and study or work there,” Merz said.

Social climate in America was cited

Merz said his view was linked to what he described as a social climate that had “suddenly” emerged in the United States.

The conservative politician, who has three children, said even highly educated people in the US were facing major difficulties in finding work. Merz described himself as a “great admirer of America,” but added that this admiration was not currently increasing.

His comments drew both laughter and applause from the audience at the Würzburg event.

Merz highlighted Germany’s opportunities

In his address, Merz urged young people to look more positively at Germany’s potential.

Despite the challenges facing the country, he said Germany remained a place with strong opportunities for education, employment and building a future. Merz also said he wanted to give people more hope and acknowledged that he needed to explain his government’s decisions more clearly.

His remarks came as public dissatisfaction with the government has grown. According to an ARD-DeutschlandTrend survey cited in the report, satisfaction with the government had fallen to 13 percent one year after it took office, while personal satisfaction with Merz had dropped to 16 percent.

Tensions remain between Berlin and Washington

Merz’s comments on the United States came at a time of renewed strain between Washington and its European allies under US President Donald Trump.

The tensions have been shaped by disagreements over trade, the war in Ukraine and, more recently, Iran. Merz took office about a year ago as a leader who described himself as a transatlanticist, but he soon began criticizing Germany’s most powerful ally.

The relationship became more strained after Merz said last month that the United States had been humiliated in the Iran war. Trump responded by deciding to withdraw some American troops from Germany and telling the German leader to focus on fixing his own “broken country.”

Chancellor offered self-criticism

During the event in Würzburg, Merz also offered criticism of his government and his own communication style.

He said public disputes within the coalition needed to lead to results. Merz stressed that disagreement is a natural part of democracy, but suggested that his government might currently be debating too much while producing too few outcomes.

“Disagreement is an inseparable part of democracy,” he said, adding that if political debate stopped and everyone suddenly agreed, “something would be wrong.”

“I know I need to improve my communication”

Youth representatives at the event told Merz that young people should be more involved in decision-making processes and should not be described as “lazy.”

Merz responded by saying no one in his party had described German society as lazy. Still, he acknowledged shortcomings in the way he communicates.

“I know I need to improve my communication,” Merz said.

He also said tolerance begins where one’s own opinion ends, adding that it was important for people in Germany to listen to one another and seek common solutions despite differing views.

Democracy message and protests stood out

Merz also used the speech to defend democratic processes, even when they appear slower than authoritarian systems.

“In dictatorships, things move faster. But usually in the wrong direction. So let us make peace with our democracy,” he said.

Some young environmental activists protested Merz during the event. One protest also took place outside the congress center in Würzburg under the slogan calling for a future “without Merz and free of hostility toward humanity.”

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