German Chancellor Friedrich Merz advised young people not to go to the USA for studies or work, citing a problematic social climate.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Friday, during a press conference with young Catholics in Bavaria, that he would not recommend his children to go to the USA for studies or work, eliciting applause from the audience. He emphasized that a problematic social climate has developed in the United States, in the context of which Berlin has distanced itself from Washington since Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Merz, who considers himself an admirer of the USA, claimed that his admiration has not increased recently, praising instead the social market economy in Germany, which offers more opportunities for young people compared to the pure capitalism in the USA. He also criticized the difficulties faced by well-qualified individuals in finding a job in the United States. This position comes in the wake of tensions between Germany and the USA, heightened by Merz's comments on American politics and the withdrawal of American troops from Germany.