Friedrich Merz says Trump "has largely governed by bypassing Congress"

At the Social Democratic Party’s economic forum in Berlin on Wednesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he anticipated continuity in President Donald Trump’s approach after Republican midterm losses, arguing that the U.S. Constitution gives the president substantial authority to act without lawmakers. Merz’s remarks followed the U.S. midterm elections, which the report described as a setback for Trump. Berlin’s deputy government spokesman, Steffen Meyer, separately told reporters that Germany would maintain its working relationship with Washington and still regarded the United States as a key ally, even if the balance of power in both congressional chambers shifted. The comments came as Germany signaled it would keep its ties with Washington on an even course after the U.S. vote.