German Chancellor Merz sees no fundamental shift in Trump’s policies after Republican midterm defeat, citing his ability to act without Congress

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he does not expect the Republican defeat in the midterm elections to bring a fundamental change in U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies. Speaking at the Social Democratic Party Economic Forum in Berlin, Merz noted that Trump had largely governed by bypassing Congress over the past two years and questioned why that would change now.

Merz also pointed to the U.S. Constitution, which gives the president a powerful position and allows him to make decisions independently of Congress.

Earlier, the German government said it intended to maintain close cooperation with the United States despite the election results, which dealt Trump a major setback. Deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer told a media briefing in Berlin that the United States remained an important partner and ally, and that Berlin would continue close cooperation with Washington even if a different constellation emerged in both chambers of Congress.