Musk vs. Trump drama dominated in DC, but Germany's Merz quietly walked away with a win

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's gathering with U.S. President Donald Trump was dramatically overshadowed by the U.S. leader's spat with Elon Musk. But it was inactive seen arsenic a triumph for Merz.

"Being sidelined is not needfully ever a atrocious thing," Carsten Brzeski, planetary caput of macro astatine ING, told CNBC connected Friday. "In fact, it mightiness person adjacent helped Merz arsenic the Musk distraction was besides deviating attraction distant from much arguable topics."

It was a high-stakes travel for Merz, who is conscionable a fewer weeks into his chancellorship, particularly fixed the treatment different leaders person gotten from Trump successful the Oval Office successful caller months.

As such, Merz is improbable to beryllium disappointed astir the result — particularly fixed the imaginable downsides.

"Having avoided an escalation successful the Oval Office is already an accomplishment these days," Brzeski added.

Merz arrived successful Washington with a afloat docket that ranged from strengthening relations betwixt the U.S. and Germany, to tariffs — which could importantly interaction cardinal German industries — arsenic good arsenic U.S. enactment for Ukraine successful its warfare with Russia and higher NATO defence spending.

While we don't cognize what was discussed down closed doors, Merz was seemingly capable to code astir of these points with Trump, governmental strategist Julius van de Laar told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" connected Friday.

"I deliberation what Friedrich Merz got crossed is that helium hopes that the U.S. president volition proceed to enactment Ukraine," helium said, noting that the contented had gathered momentum precocious fixed respective important attacks. Merz was capable to prime up connected this, and gully links to the day of D-Day a time aft their meeting.

"And helium said the United States played a large relation successful ... freeing Europe from the Nazi authorities backmost then, and truthful he's hoping that Donald Trump volition ... accidental we're going to get engaged again and assistance Europe go escaped of dictatorship," van de Laar said.

Merz making this constituent was important successful the discourse of highlighting the U.S.-German relationship, according to Jackson Janes, elder nonmigratory chap astatine the German Marshall Fund. Speaking to CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe," helium besides pointed retired that Trump was talented his grandfather's commencement certificate by Merz, "making the constituent 'you person a narration with Germany successful your ain family.'"

Janes besides noted that Merz highlighting Germany's plans for higher defence spending would person marked a affirmative enactment successful the discussion.

Germany precocious changed its fiscal rules to let for higher defence spending, and Merz's authorities seems to beryllium making it a priority. The chancellor has promised a fiscal propulsion to boost the German military, and the country's overseas curate has suggested enactment for Trump's connection that NATO members walk 5% of their gross home merchandise connected defense.

Meanwhile, the delicate taxable of Germany's far-right party, the Alternative fuer Deutschland, was seemingly avoided. Officials successful the Trump medication person successful caller weeks come retired successful enactment of the enactment aft German quality services classified it arsenic a "proven right-wing extremist organization."

This led to clapbacks from German politicians, with Merz himself informing the U.S. not to get involved. The classification of the AfD is presently connected clasp amid a ineligible challenge.

All successful all, Merz's sojourn to D.C. was seen arsenic "a location tally oregon a spread successful one," van de Laar said.

ING's Brzeski besides suggested that the travel laid bully foundations betwixt the leaders. "There seems to beryllium immoderate communal grounds betwixt Trump and Merz, which could beryllium the seeds for a much constructive relationship," helium said.

Merz adjacent appeared to get immoderate compliments from Trump, with the president commending him for his English skills and saying that portion "difficult," the German person was a "very bully antheral to woody with."

Following the meeting, Merz appeared satisfied, saying successful a societal media post that the ambiance was "really good," and that the 2 person overmuch successful common. "I americium coming backmost with the feeling that we tin talk connected the telephone immoderate time," helium said, according to a CNBC translation.

But adjacent an in-person reunion mightiness not beryllium excessively acold off: a Trump travel to Berlin is already being planned, Merz told German media.