German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday backed the aims of the US-Israeli war on Iran but called for its early end, voicing fear for the global economy, as he visited the White House. Merz, who has been among Europe's more hawkish voices on Iran, became the first foreign leader to see Trump after the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on Saturday. "So that's the reason why we all hope that this war will come to an end as soon as possible," Merz said. But Trump praised Merz, saying that he was more in line with him than long-serving chancellor Angela Merkel, whom Trump once again berated for her welcome to migrants. AdvertisementReferring to Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression on Ukraine, Merz told Trump: "There are too many bad guys in this world, actually."

Source: The Local March 04, 2026 14:25 UTC