German chancellor Friedrich Merz confronts far-right AfD and pulls Trump call following election losses

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sharply criticized the Alternative for Germany (AfD) following the far-right party's recent victories in eastern state elections, describing the group in parliament as a "destructive force."

The election results, which marked severe losses for Merz's conservative party, sparked a diplomatic rift after US President Donald Trump publicly praised the AfD's performance on social media. In response, Merz canceled a scheduled phone call with Trump and declared that the era of "unconditional" trans-Atlantic relations built since World War II was "probably over" for now. State intelligence agencies continue to monitor the anti-immigration party, which several states classify as far-right extremists.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, Cyprus Mail, Sweden Herald, The Guardian