Friedrich Merz cancels Trump call after AfD praise

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz cancelled a planned phone call with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, hours after Trump publicly celebrated a regional election win by Germany's far-right AfD party.

A spokesman for Merz declined to give a reason for the cancellation. In response to journalists' questions, he said it was not due to scheduling conflicts. No new date for a call had been set.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that the AfD had a “really big night” and criticised Germany's immigration rules. At the end of his message, he also wrote “MGGA”, an apparent pro-AfD play on his own “MAGA” slogan.

Merz's spokesman did not directly respond to Trump's comments. He said the chancellor had often objected in general terms to interfering in or commenting on domestic political situations, especially elections.

The AfD won a breakthrough victory on Sunday in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Merz has repeatedly described the party as racist and a threat to democracy.

Other figures in Trump's political orbit, including a former US ambassador to Germany and Elon Musk, also publicly celebrated the AfD's victory. Musk has openly endorsed and supported the AfD for several years and appeared by video at one of its campaign rallies during Germany's 2025 national elections.