German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday he would currently advise against his children moving to the United States for education or work, citing what he described as a changing social atmosphere and reduced opportunities even for well-qualified people.
Speaking to young attendees at a Catholic convention in Wuerzburg, Merz urged Germans to resist a mindset that focuses on catastrophe and instead to be more optimistic about Germany's prospects. "I firmly believe that there are few countries in the world that offer such great opportunities, especially for young people, as Germany," he said.
He added: "I wouldn't recommend that my children go to the U.S. today, get their education there, and work there, simply because a social climate has suddenly developed there. Today, the best-educated people in America have great difficulty finding a job." Merz is a 70-year-old father of three.
The comments come as transatlantic relations have frayed under U.S. President Donald Trump, with disputes over trade, the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and decisions on troop deployments introducing tension into NATO ties. Merz, who assumed the chancellorship in 2025 and initially described himself as a transatlanticist, has grown increasingly critical of the United States.
Last month Merz said the United States was being humiliated in the Iran war - a remark that drew the ire of President Trump. In the days that followed, Washington announced a partial withdrawal of troops from Germany and implemented tariff increases on European Union cars, a sector where German manufacturers are prominent.
Addressing the audience in Wuerzburg, Merz acknowledged his admiration for the United States but said it was waning. "I am a great admirer of America," he said. "My admiration isn't growing at the moment," he added, eliciting laughter and applause.
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