German chancellor says he ‘would not advise my children to go’ to US
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Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany main opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), recently stated he would "not advise my children to go" to the United States, citing it no longer as a "land of unlimited opportunity." His remarks, made at the CDU annual economic council, specifically criticized growing political polarization, social fragmentation, and economic challenges within the US. This sentiment from a key European political figure underscores deep-seated concerns among transatlantic allies regarding the United States' internal stability and long-term economic attractiveness. It reflects a broader shift in geopolitical perceptions, where traditional power dynamics and the appeal of Western democracies are being re-evaluated amidst global challenges like rising inflation, heightened social divisions, and intense economic competition, prompting leaders like Merz to publicly question the nation's future trajectory.