Berlin is aware of today's possible pitfallspublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 5 June

16:45 BST 5 June

Jessica Parker
Berlin correspondent

No doubt the new government in Berlin has been busy strategising for every eventuality they can think of, aware of the possible pitfalls.

One is the deep disdain that Vice-President, JD Vance, has for the so-called “firewall” that keeps the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) out of power.

“If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you,” Vance told the Munich Security Conference in February.

The VP also broke diplomatic norms by meeting the AfD’s leader, Alice Weidel, ahead of Germany’s snap election that saw the party storm into second place.

Could Merz be admonished for refusing to go into government with the AfD? A party recently classified as extremist by domestic intelligence although that public designation was paused, pending a legal challenge.

If so, he’s unlikely to concede the point, having called on US government to “stay out” of Berlin’s domestic politics.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived at the White House.

With a customary handshake from President Trump on arrival, the bilateral has begun.

Reporters will soon follow them into the Oval Office for their meeting.

Our reporters at the White House have spotted German media arriving, the honour guard appearing, and the gates opening.

We've also just watched the German and US flags be fluffed.

In fact, a car seems to be pulling up now - stay with us as we bring you the very latest.

Image source, Reuters

It's not unprecedented for Trump's administration to weigh in on domestic issues faced by visiting leaders. In Germany's case, JD Vance has previously commented on local politics - namely the far right Alternative für Germany (AfD) party.

Mainstream political parties in Germany maintain a so-called "firewall" of non-cooperation with the AfD. In the decades since democracy was restored in Germany after the defeat of the Nazis, there has been a consensus among its main political parties not to work with far-right parties.

"Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters," Vance said during the Munich Security Conference in February. "There's no room for firewalls. You either uphold the principle or you don't.”

The AfD's candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, later shared parts of his speech on X, praising it as "excellent". Vance then met with Weidel, just weeks before a German election

Later, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius addressed Vance. "Democracy was called into question by the US vice-president for the whole of Europe.

"He speaks of the annihilation of democracy," Pistorius continued. "And if I have understood him correctly, he is comparing conditions in parts of Europe with those in authoritarian regimes... that is not acceptable.”

Germany's defence spending may be on Trump's mindpublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 5 June

16:24 BST 5 June

Jessica Parker
Berlin correspondent

The chancellor and his cabinet have made clear steps towards beefing up defence spending as well as Germany’s role in European security – with Merz even pledging to create the continent’s “strongest” army.

Berlin has indicated it’s willing to move towards spending 3.5% on defence with a further 1.5% on related infrastructure, as governments prepare for a major summit of the Nato military alliance this month.

However, Germany’s army is widely seen as having been long underfunded – meaning there’s a mountain to climb – while divides simmer about how far to go within Merz’s coalition with the centre left.

At the moment, however, Germany's defence spending stands at 2% of its GDP - well below the 5% target that Trump has called on Nato allies to reach.

The pace of that change, some observers have warned, could irk Trump and become a contentious issue during the Oval Office meeting.

Image source, EPA

We've heard that the war in Ukraine will be a key topic this morning.

Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has told Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky that Berlin will help Kyiv produce long-range weapons to defend itself from Russian attack.

"We want to talk about production and we will not publicly discuss details," he said, when asked by reporters in Berlin if Germany would supply Kyiv with its Taurus missiles.

Germany's defence ministry said in a statement that Berlin would finance the production of long-range weapons systems in Ukraine and that the "first of these systems could be deployed in the Ukrainian armed forces in just a few weeks".

The Kremlin has warned that any decision to end range restrictions on the missiles that Ukraine can use would be a quite dangerous change in policy that would harm efforts to reach a political deal.

• Read more about Merz’s relationship with Zelensky

Germany is the EU’s largest exporter to Americapublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 5 June

16:04 BST 5 June

Jessica Parker
Berlin correspondent

One matter on the table today will, of course, be tariffs – this week Trump doubled import taxes on steel and aluminium.

Germany is the EU’s largest exporter to America, meaning the country’s businesses are extremely agitated about obstacles to trade.

Merz, a 69-year-old reputed millionaire with a corporate background, may feel confident about going toe-to-toe with Donald Trump the ‘dealmaker’.

The German chancellor will surely want to try and smooth the path for EU negotiators as talks continue with the US.

Image source, EPA

Tariffs are likely to be high on the German chancellor’s agenda. Merz’s trip to Washington DC comes just one day after a 50% tariff on steel and aluminium imports kicked in.

The move hikes import taxes on the metals, which are used in everything from cars to canned food, for the second time since March. Trump says the measures are intended to secure the future of the American steel industry.

Critics say the protections could wreak havoc on steel producers outside the US, spark retaliation from trade partners, and come at a punishing cost for American users of the metals.

The UK has been temporarily spared from the tariff. Trump said in the order that the UK needed "different treatment" because of the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) signed on 8 May 2025.

Trump later added that the US might increase the tariff on the UK "on or after 9July 2025" if it "determines that the United Kingdom has not complied with relevant aspects of the EPD".

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC

Just a short while ago, Chancellor Merz held a short press briefing for traveling German journalists at Blair House, the location just across the street from the White House where he's staying.

In his remarks, Merz said he was "looking forward" to the visit and is "well-prepared".

"Nato will be a major topic," Merz told reporters. "As will trade and Ukraine."

Merz also suggested he's ready for any potential ambush if Trump or his team bring up Germanys far-right AfD or freedom of speech issues in Germany.

"When we talk about German domestic politics, I will use clear words," he said.

Image source, Reuters

A meeting between two world leaders or representatives isn’t always front page news.

However, the way President Trump’s bilateral meetings have gone in the past few months, the outcomes are harder to predict.

Back in February, Indian Prime Minister Modi hailed a "mega partnership" with the US during a two-day visit, as he and Trump agreed on a deal for Delhi to import more American oil and gas.

Later in the month, Trump told a joint news conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer: "We like each other, frankly, and we like each other's country.” He seemed dazzled when Starmer presented him with a letter from King Charles in the Oval Office.

The next day, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky faced an extraordinary dressing down in front of the world's media, after Trump and Vice-President JD Vance demanded that he show more gratitude for US support in its fight against Russia’s invasion.

And in May, Trump ambushed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during a live news conference with widely discredited claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa.

Image source, EPA

Though there isn’t an official list of topics that Trump and Merz plan to address at their first bilateral meeting, the German embassy in Washington has said that war and trade will be on the agenda.

“Key topics will include bilateral relations as well as international issues such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and trade policy,” the embassy said.

Merz has been a hard-line supporter of Ukraine and its president Volodymyr Zelensky, someone with whom Trump has had his fair share of contention.

Germany has also pushed back on Trump’s tariffs, particularly those on steel and cars, which would heavily impact German manufacturers.

As other world leaders have visited Washington for similar meetings over the last few months, that’s been a major talking point.

Welcome to our live coverage of the bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Merz, a member of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU), was elected on 6 May, and this is the first official meeting between the two leaders.

After initial greetings, Trump and Merz will head to the Oval Office where they will hold what's known as a "spray" - when reporters are invited to shout questions at the two.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest.