German Chancellor Merz gifts Trump German football jersey at G7 summit

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a personalized German national football jersey during the G7 summit in Evian‑les‑Bains, France, on 16 June 2026. The jersey bore the name “TRUMP” and the number 47, referencing Trump’s position as the 47th U.S. president, and was framed as a belated 80th‑birthday gift. The gesture followed weeks of tense exchanges between Merz and Trump over the United States’ policy toward Iran, during which Trump had criticized Germany’s stance. At the summit, Trump lifted the shirt for the cameras before placing it on the table, and Merz posted on X, “Happy belated 80th birthday, @POTUS. After all, we’re on the same team.” European leaders used the moment to signal a willingness to maintain cooperation with the United States on key issues such as the war in Ukraine and a potential Iran peace framework. Some reports noted that the jersey featured inaccuracies – an unofficial font, missing DFB logo and absent front‑number – likely due to retail restrictions on custom orders. The event was attended by other G7 heads, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, underscoring its diplomatic significance.