Meretz cancels phone call with Trump after US president welcomes victory of Alternative party - Sarmad

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled on Wednesday a scheduled phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, hours after the latter publicly praised the victory of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in local elections.

A spokesperson for Merz declined to disclose the reason for the cancellation, but clarified in response to journalists’ questions that it was not due to a scheduling conflict.

Trump praised what he described as a “really great night” for Alternative for Germany in a post on his platform, Truth Social.

Writing late Tuesday, Trump said, “They are finally tired of the terrible immigration laws and rules that have done serious damage to Germany.”

Merz’s spokesperson did not directly comment on Trump’s remarks, but noted that the Chancellor has repeatedly objected “in general terms” to “interference in or commentary on domestic political matters, especially concerning elections.”

The spokesperson added that no new date has been set for a phone call between the two leaders.

Alternative for Germany, which Merz has repeatedly described as racist and a threat to democracy, achieved an unprecedented victory on Sunday in local elections in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany.