Friedrich Merz, the leading candidate for the chancellery in Germany's upcoming election, said a leaked briefing by Germany's ambassador to the United States heavily criticising Donald Trump was damaging to the German government's reputation.

Friedrich Merz, a top candidate for German chancellor, criticized a leaked briefing by Germany's U.S. ambassador that condemned Trump's policies. The briefing, reported by Reuters, challenges Trump's democratic principles and media independence.

BERLIN >> Germany’s ambassador to the United States has warned that the incoming Trump administration will rob U.S. law enforcement and the media of their independence and hand big tech companies “co-governing power,