German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he would not recommend his children move to the United States to study or work, citing what he calls a “social climate” that has recently developed. In remarks reported by multiple outlets, Merz describes concerns about conditions in the US that make him less optimistic about the country as a place for young people at this time. Several reports specify that he mentions both living and educational or employment plans, framing his comments as personal guidance rather than an official travel or immigration policy.
The coverage also links Merz’s comments to broader tensions in Germany-US relations and recent political disputes involving President Donald Trump. One outlet reports Merz’s critique in the context of his wider confrontation with Trump over the Iran war, while another describes the change as part of a growing cultural or political rift between the US and Europe. Other accounts focus on Merz’s assessment of shifting social and economic prospects.
Across the reports, the central point is that Merz publicly signals reluctance about sending young people to the US in the current environment, while stopping short of outlining specific causes beyond his general characterization of the “social climate.”
