Sep 20, 2026, 08:30 AM UTC

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called off a planned telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump following social media posts from Trump celebrating the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s recent state election victory in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD secured nearly 44% of the vote and has commenced negotiations to build a governing majority, despite its classification as an extremist organization by German domestic intelligence.

Speaking to the Bundestag, Merz characterized the AfD as a "destructive force" and strongly criticized its immigration platform. Merz also declared that the era of "unconditional" trans-Atlantic ties established after World War II was "probably over" for the time being. The election outcome has drawn international concern, with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski describing the far-right triumph as "very worrying."

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, France24, Sweden Herald, The Guardian

US President Donald Trump announced an immediate ban barring journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, accusing the organizations of delivering "fake news" and dishonest reporting. Speaking during an Oval Office event on Friday, Trump defended the restrictions against unflattering media coverage and suggested additional outlets might face similar measures in the future.

The mechanism for enforcing the ban remains unconfirmed, leaving it uncertain whether reporters from the targeted organizations will be denied entry to White House facilities. Legal analysts and press freedom advocates anticipate immediate court challenges, citing potential infringements of the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which safeguards press freedom.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, Cyprus Mail, France24, The Guardian