German Leadership’s Critique of Trump and Migration Policy Shifts in a Tense Political Climate

Introduction

The geopolitical landscape 2025 has been characterized by increasing tensions between Germany and the United States under President Donald Trump, alongside notable domestic policy shifts regarding migration and border security.

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and his conservative rival, Friedrich Merz—who is set to become the next chancellor following February’s election—have voiced sharp critiques of Trump’s foreign policy while addressing complex challenges related to irregular migration, asylum reforms, and national security.

This article analyzes the motivations behind Germany’s criticism of Trump and explores the interplay between its migration policies and broader political objectives.

Scholz and Merz: A Unified Front Against Trump’s “America First” Agenda

Condemnation of Trump’s Territorial Ambitions

Both Scholz and Merz have criticized Trump’s expansionist rhetoric, particularly his threats to annex Greenland and undermine European sovereignty.

In January 2025, Scholz emphasized the “inviolability of borders” as a cornerstone of international law, responding to Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. might seize Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.

Scholz’s stance echoed broader European concerns about Trump’s disregard for multilateral frameworks, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warning against the “return of the law of the strongest.”

On the other hand, Merz accused Trump of being indifferent to Europe’s security, pointing to the U.S. president’s refusal to commit troops to Ukraine and his dismissal of NATO’s collective defense principles.

Gaza Proposal Sparks Outrage

Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. could “redevelop” Gaza into a luxury enclave while relocating its Palestinian population drew strong condemnation from Scholz, who called the idea a “scandal” and a violation of international law.

Although Merz acknowledged the proposal’s “disconcerting” nature, he downplayed its feasibility, attributing it to Trump’s tendency for rhetorical escalation.

This debate highlighted Germany’s commitment to upholding humanitarian norms, even as Merz sought to balance criticism of Trump with pragmatic diplomacy.

NATO and Trade Tensions

Trump’s demand for NATO allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP—a significant leap from the existing 2% target—has further strained transatlantic relations.

Scholz dismissed the proposal as economically unfeasible, while Merz criticized Trump’s transactional approach to alliance-building, arguing that it undermined decades of trust.

Trade disputes have also been significant, with Scholz pledging to counter Trump’s tariff threats through EU-wide retaliation, asserting that Brussels could respond “within hours” to protect European interests.

Migration Policy: Security Concerns and Political Posturing

Border Controls and Deportations

In September 2024, Scholz’s government reintroduced temporary border controls across Germany’s Schengen frontiers, a measure extended in February 2025 for an additional six months to curb irregular migration.

The policy, framed as essential for “internal security,” resulted in 47,000 deportations and a 33% drop in asylum applications.

Merz has advocated for even stricter measures, pledging to make border checks permanent and block all undocumented migrants, including asylum seekers.

This hardline approach gained traction in light of a series of high-profile incidents, including a fatal stabbing in Mannheim by an Afghan refugee and a vehicular assault in Munich linked to migrants.

The Afghan Deportation Dilemma

Germany's first deportation flight to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021—carrying 28 convicted criminals—marked a pivotal change in migration enforcement.

Negotiated through Qatari mediators, the operation faced criticism from human rights groups, who warned of risks to individuals returned under Taliban rule.

Merz defended the deportations as necessary for addressing public safety concerns, while Scholz framed them as a reluctant response to political pressure.

Amnesty International condemned the move, arguing that deportations to Afghanistan violate international law given the Taliban’s systemic human rights abuses.

Electoral Calculations and the Far-Right Surge

Migration has dominated Germany’s 2025 election campaign, with the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) capitalizing on anti-immigrant sentiment to secure second place in polls.

Merz’s CDU/CSU has adopted more authoritarian rhetoric to counter the AfD’s rise, pledging to halt asylum admissions from Afghanistan and Syria and accelerate deportations.

This strategy mirrors Denmark’s restrictive policies, which have reduced asylum approvals to fewer than 1,000 annually.

However, Merz’s willingness to indirectly collaborate with the AfD on migration votes has weakened Germany’s longstanding “firewall” against the normalization of far-right ideologies.

Transatlantic Relations in Flux: Europe’s Quest for Autonomy

Merz’s Vision for European Defense

Alarmed by Trump’s ambivalence toward NATO, Merz has prioritized the development of an “independent European defense capability.”

He criticized U.S. demands for increased spending, arguing that Europe must take greater responsibility for its security.

The Elon Musk Factor

Merz singled out Elon Musk’s endorsement of the AfD as emblematic of U.S. interference in German politics, comparing it to Russian disinformation campaigns. Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), amplified AfD narratives linking migration to crime, exacerbating societal divisions ahead of elections. This external meddling, Merz argued, underscored the urgency of safeguarding European political autonomy from both U.S. and Russian influence.

Humanitarian Critiques and the Asylum System’s Fractures

Eroding Protections for Afghan Refugees

Germany’s 2021 evacuation of Afghans fleeing Taliban persecution has given way to stricter asylum policies.

Pro Asyl, a refugee advocacy group, reported increased rejections for Afghan men, with authorities citing “family networks” in Afghanistan as grounds for deportation.

Many asylum seekers now face interaction with Taliban-linked consulates in Germany, raising fears that biometric data could expose relatives in Afghanistan to retaliation.

Scholz’s Balancing Act

Scholz’s government expanded residency and citizenship pathways for migrants in 2022 but reversed course under pressure from conservative rivals.

His administration’s negotiations with Uzbekistan and Pakistan to accept deported Afghans reflect a fraught attempt to reconcile human rights commitments with political realism.

Yet, with Merz leading polls, Germany appears poised for a dramatic policy pivot, prioritizing border security over humanitarian protections.

Conclusion

Sovereignty, Security, and the Shadow of Trump

Germany’s critique of Trump stems from a deepening conviction that U.S. leadership under his administration is unreliable and increasingly adversarial. Scholz and Merz, despite ideological differences, share a commitment to European strategic autonomy, whether through strengthened NATO alternatives or migration policies that assert national control.

However, the rise of the AfD and Merz’s electoral gambits risks normalizing far-right ideologies and destabilizing Germany’s democratic fabric.

As Merz prepares to assume power, his challenge will be to uphold international law while addressing voter anxieties—a tightrope walk shaped equally by Trump’s provocations and Europe’s evolving identity.