Does Donald Trump think that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is a Nazi?
During a press conference with Merz Thursday, Trump seemed confused when the foreign leader brought up the anniversary of the D-Day invasion, when U.S. troops landed on the beaches in Normandy during World War II, on June 6, 1944. The military operation marked a significant turning point in the war against the Nazis.
“That was not a pleasant day for you?” Trump asked Merz. The U.S. president then turned to the press, adding, “This was not a great day!”
“No, that was not a pleasant—well, but in the long run, Mr. President, this was the liberation of my country from Nazi dictatorship,” Merz said, as the U.S. president laughed.
Trump quickly composed himself. “That’s true, that’s true,” he said.
MERZ: Tomorrow is the D Day anniversary, when the Americans ended a war in EuropeTRUMP: That was not a pleasant day for you? This is not a great dayMERZ: This was the liberation of my country from Nazi dictatorship pic.twitter.com/rcEDGopjVy
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 5, 2025
Trump’s wild comment about Germany’s defeat in World War II betrays a weak understanding of world history, framing the Nazis as simply a German political party and not a genocidal regime responsible for the murder of six million Jewish people, and millions of others.
This strange remark is yet another installment of the president’s sympathetic ideas about Nazis. Last month, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump suggested that some Nazi soldiers had treated their Jewish prisoners with “love.” Trump also infamously claimed that Hitler had done “some good things.”
Despite Trump’s gaffe, Merz continued, saying that Germany and other European countries were hoping for help from the United States once again, and hoped to discuss Trump putting “more pressure on Russia” to end its invasion of Ukraine.
The post Trump Says Germany Being Liberated From Nazis Was “Not a Great Day” appeared first on New Republic.
