German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans a dual strategy for her meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday: to seek a good personal relationship while making it clear Berlin is armed for a trade war, Der Spiegel reported.
Topics expected to come up at the meeting in Washington include NATO spending, the Ukraine, Syrian refugees and the state of the European Union, the magazine reported.
"Merkel has been studying Trump from afar," Der Spiegel reported. "She has watched his speeches and she is certain that he intends to do what he can to fulfill his promises. She is also convinced that direct contact with Trump is vital…"
The magazine said on her first face-to-face Washington visit, aside from a charm offensive, she's planning "to be very open about her views on the tax plans," including the border adjustment tax.
"We are taking this very seriously," one unnamed Chancellery official told the magazine.
Trump will also be interested in hearing Merkel's views on her experience with Russia's President Vladimir Putin," Reuters reported.
"He’s going to be very interested in hearing her insights on what it’s like to deal with the Russians," the official told Reuters.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.