In a surprising moment during his visit to the White House on Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presented US President Donald Trump with a framed birth certificate of Trump’s grandfather, Friedrich Trump.
“This is the birth certificate of Donald Trump’s grandfather. Born in 1869 close to Brandenburg. And his first name was Friedrich,” Merz told the media while handing over the gift, as President Trump looked on appreciatively.
Trump expressed gratitude for the gesture, shaking Merz’s hand and saying, “I want to thank you very much for this one. Wanna thank you for that. Fantastic. We’ll put it up in place of our.. I don’t know, maybe we can.. let’s see, we can put it up there someplace.”
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Germany’s Chancellor Merz presented Trump the birth certificate of his German grandfather, Friedrich Trump.
It was a clever jab to remind Trump he’s a German immigrant. pic.twitter.com/uTTDQ8sfAT
— Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) June 5, 2025
Friedrich Trump, also known as Frederick Trump, was born on March 14, 1869, in Kallstadt, Germany. He emigrated to the US in 1885 and began building a career in real estate. He passed away in 1918 in Queens, New York, during the flu pandemic.
Warm Talks on Trade, Ukraine, and Defence
Trump and Merz met at the Oval Office, engaging in discussions around critical global issues including Ukraine, trade policies, and NATO troops. The meeting stood in contrast to Trump’s often fiery encounters with other world leaders.
Describing Merz as “difficult,” Trump clarified it was meant as a compliment, calling the German Chancellor a “good representative of Germany.” Trump affirmed that US forces would remain stationed in Germany and welcomed Berlin’s pledge to enhance its defense spending.
Chancellor Merz acknowledged the past mistake regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany, a project Trump had opposed and emphasized Germany’s intention to strengthen relations with the United States.
Unlike past Oval Office meetings marked by tension, such as those with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Trump-Merz interaction remained cordial and constructive.
