In an interview with Politico published on March 9, Yolanda Diaz, deputy prime minister of Spain's coalition government, criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his behavior during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
“Today, Europe needs leadership, not vassals who pay homage to Trump,“ said Diaz. She also noted that Merz is among the current EU leaders "who have no idea how to navigate the historical moment we are living in."
Diaz explained Merz's support for Trump by the fact that Germany is currently in a state of "exceptional economic weakness."
On March 3, during a meeting with Merz in the Oval Office, the US president sharply criticized Spain. In response, the German prime minister effectively supported the US leader, stating that "everyone should stick" to the 5% of GDP defense spending target. Merz said he would try to convince Madrid of the need to increase military spending. Several German observers noted that the chancellor should have reacted more cautiously to Trump's attacks on Spain and that in doing so he had essentially undermined his European partner.
Earlier, the DPA news agency reported that Trump and Merz's meeting with journalists at the White House lasted approximately 35 minutes, of which the American leader spoke for about 30 minutes. This is Merz's third visit to the United States since he took office as German chancellor in May 2025.