Chancellor Merz, speaking at the Katholikentag in Würzburg, advised against pursuing education in the U.S., citing difficulties for even well-educated individuals in securing employment. In response, Wiese acknowledged the detrimental impact of the Trump administration on the U.S.’s global reputation but asserted that the country remains fundamentally strong. Merz’s earlier remarks regarding U.S. strategy in the Iran conflict had already sparked discontent in Washington. This discussion was reported by Deutschlandfunk on May 17, 2026.