Addressing the Munich Security Conference on Friday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested that “a deep divide has opened between Europe and the United States.” While Merz called for both American and European actions to “repair” the trans-Atlantic alliance, his speech was notably critical of the Trump administration.

The blame for the current malaise in trans-Atlantic relations must be shared. Trump has seriously damaged trans-Atlantic trust with his unconstitutional threats to seize Greenland. Still, evidence of its abundant domestic hypocrisy notwithstanding, the Trump administration is right that Europe devalues free speech to its detriment.