Overview

• Friedrich Merz said the United States has changed fundamentally, with parliamentary democracy under pressure, free expression questioned, and the judiciary facing repression.
• He emphasized that these trends are not temporary and will not simply disappear after the next U.S. vote.
• Merz argued that the rules-based international order is being challenged not only by authoritarian systems but also by America.
• Reports cited the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey and a temporary pause for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel as examples that have intensified concerns about free speech and judicial independence.
• The remarks were delivered at the Schwarz Ecosystem Summit, and coverage noted Merz’s longstanding U.S. ties, including past leadership of Atlantikbrücke and work at BlackRock.