Germany's Merz enters Trump's Oval Office ring

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet with President Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday, where he will likely face a series of on-camera spectacles and potentially even a full-blown attack. The Oval Office has become a danger zone for world leaders under Trump's presidency. Merz's meeting comes after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit took a dark turn when he presented false allegations of a "white genocide" in South Africa. Merz has previously stated that strengthening Europe is his top priority in order to achieve independence from the US. However, some leaders have walked away from the White House relatively unscathed, such as Canada's Mark Carney and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele leaned into the show, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer came ready with a gift. Merz's conservative immigration approach and business background could help him find common ground with Trump. The meeting is likely to discuss defense spending, trade, and talks to end the war in Ukraine. However, MAGA world's sympathies towards the anti-immigration AfD party could be a tense undercurrent to the meeting.