The Brief

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Donald Trump will meet at the White House on Thursday.

Trump and Merz have communicated on the phone a few times since Merz was elected to office on May 6, with German officials telling the Associated Press that the president and chancellor are building a "decent" relationship.

What will Trump and Merz discuss at their meeting?

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A White House official told the Associated Press topics that President Donald Trump is likely to address with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz include Germany’s defense spending, trade, Ukraine and what the official called "democratic backsliding," saying the administration's stance is that shared values like freedom of speech have diminished in Germany and the country should reverse course. T

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