German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly warned the Trump administration not to interfere in German state elections after the US State Department announced a grant scheme offering up to $3 million to European organisations aligned with conservative and nationalist causes. The programme, framed around "national sovereignty, migration, censorship, and lawfare," is open to charities, think tanks, and individuals sharing what the State Department describes as a "common western civilizational heritage," with former US officials saying it is part of a broader effort to direct funds toward far-right groups across Europe. Merz, speaking at his annual summer press conference in Berlin, underscored that foreign financing of political parties is illegal in Germany, warning: "I do not want the American government or institutions close to the government to interfere in German elections."