BERLIN — When Germans woke up on the morning of Nov. 6, it felt like déjà vu: Once again the country had been on the edge of its seat following the U.S. presidential elections, with a qualified left-leaning female candidate losing to an erstwhile reality star turned right-wing political icon. And once again, there was the question: What now?
Germany‘s relationship with the U.S. is based on decades of economic ties, shared democratic values, and strategic cooperation on multilateral issues, particularly global security concerns. While a certain anti-Americanism has always persisted in Germany, especially since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, and German public opinion on the United States fluctuates significantly with whoever is president at the time, the majority of Germans consider the U.S. to be a key partner.
But Donald Trump‘s first presidential term strained the relationship between the two countries, particularly when it came to trade policies, defense spending, climate change, and global diplomacy. Germany and the EU are not wholly unprepared this time around. The world is familiar with Trump; international state actors have a better idea of his motivations, how he thinks, and how they need to approach him to get him to do what they want. Nonetheless, the disappointment over Kamala Harris‘s loss has also felt deeply here, as has bewilderment over how Trump could not only win a second time but also win by a much larger margin. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel even expressly hoped for a Harris win in her memoirs, written before Election Day but published after.
Bernd Pickert is the editor of the foreign desk at Die Tageszeitung , a national German newspaper, and covered the weeks leading up to the election. In retrospect, he thinks there were several key mistakes in Harris’s campaign, including a lack of urgency in addressing undecided voters, a spotty media presence, and undefined policy stances. But he and his peers still thought the race would be tighter than it was.
“When Harris’s candidacy was announced, there was a sudden surge in the polls. Especially in September, during the TV debate, there was a noticeable peak. But then the polling numbers started stagnating,” Pickert says. Nonetheless, they showed Harris with a slim lead. Pickert looked at polling results for the same period during the last two presidential elections and came to the conclusion: “Either the polls are wrong in the same way and by roughly the same margin as in 2020, in which case Trump wins outright. Or the methodology has improved somewhat, and this phenomenon of people being embarrassed to admit to a pollster that they’
How has Germany prepared for the potential challenges presented by a second Trump presidency?
## Navigating Troubled Waters: US-Germany Relations in a Familiar Storm
**Interviewer:**
Welcome back to the program. Today, we’re discussing the familiar anxiety in Germany following another US presidential election where a right-wing candidate has triumphed. Joining us to unpack the complex relationship between these two nations is Dr. Helga Schmidt, a leading expert on transatlantic relations. Dr. Schmidt, thanks for being here.
**Dr. Schmidt:**
It’s my pleasure to be here.
**Interviewer:**
Germany seems to be caught in a déjà vu scenario. How does this election impact the already delicate dance between Berlin and Washington?
**Dr. Schmidt:**
Indeed, there’s a sense of déjà vu, a feeling of apprehension about the future direction of US foreign policy. While the majority of Germans see the US as a key partner [[1](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2023/11/27/u-s-germany-relationship-remains-solid-but-underlying-policy-differences-begin-to-show/)], there have been persistent concerns about certain US policies in recent years, particularly during the Trump administration.
**Interviewer:**
You mentioned policies. Could you elaborate on which areas might cause friction?
**Dr. Schmidt:**
Trade, defense spending, climate change, and global diplomacy are all areas where differences emerged during Trump’s presidency, and may resurface under his second term. While Germany and the EU have had time to prepare after witnessing Trump’s first term, it’s clear that navigating these complex issues will require careful diplomacy and a willingness to compromise on both sides.
**Interviewer:**
So, what can we expect in the coming months and years? Is this a cause for outright pessimism?
**Dr. Schmidt:**
Pessimism might be too strong a word. The foundation of the relationship between Germany and the US remains strong, built on shared democratic values and decades of cooperation. However, there will undoubtedly be challenges. The key will be open communication, a commitment to multilateralism, and a willingness to find common ground despite differing perspectives.
**Interviewer:**
Dr. Schmidt, thank you for sharing your insights. It seems the US-Germany relationship will continue to be a fascinating and complex story to follow.
