Likely Incoming German Chancellor Rejects Trump's Overtures, Seeks 'Independence' From America

German voters on Sunday rejected the former leftist governing coalition of Social Democrats and Greens in favor of the supposedly conservative Christian Democrats and the populist-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

In response to the election results, President Donald Trump commented on Truth Social:

Looks like the conservative party in Germany has won the very big and highly anticipated election. Much like the USA, the people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has prevailed for so many years.
This is a great day for Germany, and for the United States of America under the leadership of a gentleman named Donald J. Trump. Congratulations to all — many more victories to follow!!!

Was it really "a great day for Germany"?

Just one problem.

Following the Christian Democratic Union's decisive victory, its leader and likely the next German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, rejected overtures from Trump, called for Germany's "independence" from the U.S., and accused Elon Musk of election interference.

Merz said, per state broadcaster DW:

I am communicating closely with a lot of prime ministers, and heads of EU states and for me it is an absolute priority to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible, so that we achieve independence from the US, step by step. .
I never thought that I would ever need to say something like that, on television, but after the latest statements made by Donald Trump last week, it is clear, that the Americans — at any case these Americans, this administration — mostly don't care about the fate of Europe one way or another.

Merz added that it wasn't certain what the future has in store for NATO, or if Europe will need to act quickly to shore up its own defenses.

He also criticized Elon Musk for meddling in the German election campaign, saying that the "intervention from Washington were no less drastic, dramatic, and ultimately no less brazen, than the intervention that we have seen from Moscow."

Oops? If so, on whom? We'll get there.

Merz's comments were largely in response to Trump's insistence that European countries pay for their own defense, which is beyond reasonable, but as the Cato Institute recently noted, Europeans largely "have a welfare mindset, convinced that the American people owe them their defense," which is of course totally ridiculous.

Here's more (emphasis, mine):

The likely incoming chancellor has previously threatened that Musk’s companies may face “political” or “legal” repercussions for his supposed interference during the election campaign. In addition to his X social media platform, Musk’s Tesla firm also has a major “gigafactory” manufacturing plant in Germany.
Merz has also confirmed that he intends to continue Germany’s restrictive speech laws. In response to criticisms over Berlin’s censorship regime from U.S. Vice President JD Vance earlier this month at the Munich Security Conference, Merz said: “Freedom of speech remains freedom of speech, but fake news, hate speech, and crimes are subject to legal restrictions and independent courts.”

As I wrote in an unrelated earlier article on Monday, Europe continues to be a fertile field for trained censors and "disinformation experts," as attacks against free speech continue to sweep across the continent that continues to get in its own way, just as it has done for centuries.

Were it not for the strategic importance of Europe due to its proximity to Russia, along with its stubborn historical habit of warring with itself, I'd be all in for cutting all ties, starting with cutting off 100 percent of U.S. aid — yesterday.

Meanwhile, President Trump should continue his hard stance, while clowns like Friedrich Merz continue to demonstrate why Europe's divisive problems will only get worse.