D-Day 2025: Trump’s comments spark tension as German leader Merz corrects his WWII view
President Trump makes controversial remarks about D-Day, sparking correction from German Chancellor Merz on WWII history
On Thursday, June 5, a meeting with the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office, took an awkward turn after President Donald Trump made a controversial remark about D-Day.
The U.S. president insinuated Germans must not view D-Day in a favorable light, as it commemorates the beginning of the end of the Nazi regime.
Merz corrects Trump on the meaning of D-Day for Germany
Both global leaders were in a meeting discussing the best way to proceed regarding how to bring the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to an end. "May I remind you that we are having June 6 tomorrow. This is D-Day anniversary, when the Americans once ended a war in Europe,” the German Chancellor said.
Trump, interjected the Chancellor to attempt to make a witty remark, saying: “That was not a pleasant day for you.” While Merz first tried to reply to that statement, he decided to take another approach and deliver a small history lesson.
“In the long run, Mr. President, this was the liberation of my country from Nazi dictatorship.” Merz continued, stating how the U.S. is "again in a strong position" to end the war between the 2 East Slavic nations.
What is D-Day?
While Russia and Ukraine's 3-year conflict is the bloodiest affair in Europe since World War II, just like Merz said, June 6, 2025, marks the 81st anniversary of "Operation Overlord", most commonly known as D-Day.
The operation, which happened in 1944, was the Allied invasion of France, successfully completing the largest amphibious assault in history. The beaches of Normandy saw the landing of both, troops and equipment, to begin the liberation of Western Europe from the Nazis.
