Germany's Merz Doesn't Want His Children Going to the US

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday he would not advise his children to study or work in the United States, citing concerns about the country’s “social climate.”

The remarks underscore growing unease among European leaders about shifting economic prospects and social conditions in the United States, challenging its long-standing appeal for global talent. The comments also come amid Merz’s disputes with U.S. President Donald Trump over the Iran war and Washington’s decision to reduce its troop levels in Germany.

Speaking at a Catholic Congress panel in Wuerzburg, Merz said admiration for the U.S. was “not growing,” adding that highly educated workers now faced difficulty finding jobs compared with a year ago.

“I am a great admirer of America. My admiration isn’t growing at the moment,” he said. “So, I wouldn’t recommend to my children today that they go to the U.S., get an education there, and work there. Simply because of a social climate that has suddenly developed there.”

“By the way, the question of what well-educated young people can achieve used to be answered very differently in America up until a year ago than it is today,” he continued. “Today, the best-educated in America have great difficulty finding a job.”

Merz Says He’s Aligned With Trump on Iran, Strait of Hormuz

Merz also said on Friday, following a phone call, that he and Trump agreed that Iran must return to negotiations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.

Merz said he spoke with Trump as the U.S. president traveled back from China, signaling an easing of recent tensions between Washington and Berlin.

On X, Merz wrote that the two leaders also discussed a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine and coordinated positions ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, adding that the United States and Germany remained “strong partners in a strong NATO.”

This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.

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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 8:19 AM.