At the obligatory press conference aboard Air Force One, the US President is also asked about the German Chancellor. Well, the last phone call with Friedrich Merz was"great," Donald Trump reveals – and then surprises everyone with effusive praise.

After his telephone conversation with Friedrich Merz (CDU), US President Donald Trump praised the Chancellor and described him as a “strong” and “smart” man.

"I had a great phone call with the German Chancellor. He's a strong guy, a very good man, who had a great election victory," Trump said on Friday (local time) in an interview with reporters aboard the presidential aircraft, Air Force One.

“He’s a strong guy and smart, a very smart man,” Trump continued.

The US President spoke with Merz on the phone on Friday. The discussion focused on the delivery of Patriot defense missiles to Ukraine, Trump said. He added that he had not yet made a decision on the matter. Merz believes the Ukrainians"must be protected."

dpa/krott