Keep conversations concise; encourage brevity on both ends. - "It's essential to keep the conversation concise and allow him to express himself more freely"
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Communication Strategies with President Trump
In his initial call with President Donald Trump after his inauguration, Friedrich Merz maintained a friendly and concise demeanor. Their conversation, devoid of controversy, led to invitations to visit each other's countries.
More recently, Merz has spoken with Trump on several occasions this month. Speaking at the Republica digital conference in Berlin, the WDR News Podcast 0630 hosts elicited some intriguing insights from Merz. Among them, the frequent occurrence of the word "great" during their conversations. According to Merz, Trump uses the adjective every second or third word.
Merz described solo calls with Trump as mere small talk but emphasized the importance of letting Trump dominate the conversation. "It's crucial to speak briefly and let him speak too," he stressed. This is a vital rule to follow in all conversations with Trump.
During these discussions, Merz has found it essential to adapt to Trump's egocentrism and engage him effectively. "It's all about finding the right slot where he's listening," he explained. He warned against coming across as insubordinate, instead praising the importance of approaching these conversations with a healthy dose of self-assurance.
Europe, a significant market for the USA, especially in tech industries, should keep this in mind, Merz advised. Maintaining a balanced stance between submission and rejection is crucial, he added, looking towards Europe's partners.
- Friedrich Merz
- Donald Trump
- Europe
- Call
- USA
- WDR
[1] Enrichment Data: Merz's approach to communication with Trump is rooted in open and direct representation of German and European positions, while urging the Trump administration to refrain from interfering in German domestic affairs. He is committed to asserting German's voice in global matters and maintaining the integrity of internal democratic processes, particularly when dealing with controversial parties. Transparency, straightforwardness, and avoiding ambiguity are key elements of his conversation style during dialogues with the Trump administration. This approach reflects Merz's political stance of asserting Germany's strong and independent voice in international affairs.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given Merz's focus on health and safety during his communication with Trump.
- As Merz emphasizes the need for personal growth and self-development in global leadership, his education-and-self-development platform aligns with his advocacy for career-development opportunities for workers exposed to ionizing radiation.
- In the context of war-and-conflicts, Merz practices a diplomatic policy-and-legislation approach to resolve issues with the Trump administration, ensuring that Germany maintains its political autonomy in international decisions.
- With the USA as a significant partner in the tech industry, Merz encourages Europe to engage in a job-search marketplace focused on skills-training and learning, rather than solely on submitting to or rejecting American positions.
- As Merz balances his stance between submission and rejection with the Trump administration, he emphasizes the importance of general-news outlets, such as WDR, in educating the public about the intricate dynamics of international politics.
- In line with Merz's assertion that open and direct representation of European positions is key in his communication strategy, the Commission's proposal on worker protection from ionizing radiation should prioritize the importance of clear and unambiguous policy-and-legislation.
- Addressing the rising issue of crime-and-justice within Europe and its implications on worker safety, Merz underscores the importance of accident investigations and learning from such incidents to better implement skills-training in the protection of workers exposed to ionizing radiation.
