German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday he would not advise young Germans, including his own children, to move to the U.S. for study or work [1].
The comments from a top European leader signal a potential shift in how Germany perceives the stability and attractiveness of the U.S. as a destination for professional and academic growth.
Speaking at a gathering of German Catholics in Würzburg, Bavaria, Merz addressed the current state of American society [1, 2]. He said the environment in the U.S. has changed in a way that makes him hesitant to recommend it to the next generation [2].
"I wouldn't recommend to my children today that they go to the US to study and work there," Merz said [1].
The Chancellor linked his reluctance to the prevailing atmosphere in the country. He said the social climate that has suddenly developed in America makes him reluctant to advise young people to move there [2].
Merz did not specify which particular social or political developments drove his conclusion, but he said the shift in climate was a primary factor in his decision [2, 3].
"I wouldn't advise my kids to go to the US for study or work," Merz said [3].
“"I wouldn't recommend to my children today that they go to the US to study and work there."”
The Chancellor's remarks reflect a growing concern among European leadership regarding social polarization and stability within the U.S. By framing the warning through the lens of his own children, Merz moves the critique from a diplomatic policy level to a personal and moral one, suggesting that the perceived risks of the American social environment now outweigh the traditional professional rewards of studying or working in the U.S.
