So What

Here are 3 reasons why the German results are not as simple — or as pro-Trump — as the president is suggesting:

1. Merz and the Christian Democrats are very much an establishment party. (This is Angele Merkel’s party!) And Merz has been kicking around the party for decades. He is a wealthy businessman who is very much not an outsider. This would be like if Mitt Romney got elected. Like, not exactly a radical promising to shake up the system ala Trump.
2. Vice President JD Vance and DOGE head Elon Musk both publicly advocated for the far right AfD party. While AfD did get its highest percentage of the vote ever, it will be left out of the governing coalition in Germany as Merz has pledged to never work with it or its leaders. (Like I said, this guy ain’t Donald Trump for Germany!)
3. In remarks after winning, Merz made clear that he wants to bring Germany further away from the U.S., not closer. “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA,” Merz said.“This [U.S.] administration are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.”