There are “ways to act … without taking free shots at President Trump that don’t help,” he said.
Be nice to Trump
Instead, European leaders should follow the example of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who has been careful not to anger Trump. support the war against Iran. “Working with President Trump, being complimentary, being enthusiastic, because … he’s doing them a service,” is the path they should take, Volker said.
He also called on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to convey his personality to Trump. Germany has not restricted the use of its important Ramstein air base and Merz has not clashed with the US president, although he has said that relations with the US are “simply difficult” at the moment.
Merz has had a better relationship with the president than Starmer, and Trump has not retaliated against him as he has with the British prime minister. “Unlike Keir Starmer, where President Trump seems to like to go after him a little bit, provoke him a little bit, he doesn’t do that with Merz personally,” Volker said.
Merz has invited Trump to visit his grandfather’s birthplace in western Germany. If that happens, “I would make sure that President Trump walks away feeling honored, because that’s what he wants.”
Volker also defended Trump’s stance on Iran, which has worried many European leaders. The president has changed dramatically from declaring an end to fighting to threatening to “wipe out” Iranian civilization and destroy the country’s civil infrastructure.
“He is trying to use strong words and strong positions to show strength and toughness in machismo and to make Iranians pay attention,” Volker said.
