In Germany, Friedrich Merz is set to become the next German chancellor after his conservative CDU party placed first in Sunday’s election. Merz said Germany and Europe must achieve independence from the United States as a rift grows between the Trump administration and Europe. The far-right AfD, or Alternative for Germany, party placed second in the German election — nearly doubling its support since 2021. The world’s richest man and Trump adviser Elon Musk reportedly congratulated the AfD on the results. Musk and U.S. Vice President JD Vance had both backed the far-right party. The Social Democratic Party led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz placed third in the party’s worst showing since 1890. We will go to Germany after headlines.