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Trump’s ‘Not a Great Day’ Remark on D-Day Prompts Merz Correction at White House

The exchange underscored how the legacy of World War II shapes US-German efforts to broker peace in Ukraine.

President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 5, 2025.
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Two images of a man in a suit with a red tie, sitting and talking animatedly in an office setting, during a televised event
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Overview

  • During the June 5 Oval Office meeting, Trump interrupted Merz’s reference to the June 6 D-Day anniversary by calling it “not a great day” for Germany.
  • Chancellor Merz responded that D-Day was the liberation of Germany from Nazi dictatorship, a point Trump acknowledged.
  • The unscripted interaction was broadcast live and quickly went viral on social media.
  • The leaders used the meeting to discuss joint measures and instruments aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
  • Merz cited America’s historic role in World War II to call for renewed transatlantic solidarity in resolving the current conflict.