The German federal government maintains its invitation to former U.S. President Donald Trump. Deputy government spokesperson Steffen Meyer said the invitation was already extended when the chancellor first visited the United States last year. An update to the invitation, however, was not forthcoming, and such announcements are normally made on the Friday of the preceding week.
During Chancellor Merkel’s visit to Washington on Tuesday, a reciprocal trip by Trump to Germany was not mentioned at the White House press conference nor in the subsequent statement issued by the chancellor. In December, Merkel told reporters in Rhineland‑Palatinate that Trump would visit the homeland of his Palatine ancestors in 2026. “The invitation has been issued and he received it with great enthusiasm” she replied, though she was unable to provide a specific date at the time.
Trump’s grandfather emigrated from the Palatinate in 1885 to the United States, later returned for a period, and even tried-without success-to regain Bavarian citizenship. Trump has repeatedly claimed “German blood” in his veins. While he has walked on German soil more than once-at the G20 summit in Hamburg and at the U.S. airbase in Ramstein-he has never undertaken an official state visit to Berlin.
