Trump's potential interest in Neuschwanstein Castle overlooks the flat southern landscape - tinged with a hint of apprehension.
Markus Söder, the Minister-President of Bavaria and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), and Hendrik Wüst, his counterpart from North Rhine-Westphalia, recently joined forces in Bocholt, NRW, to drum up support for the Union candidate in the upcoming local elections.
The event, which took place in a hall located in an industrial estate at the end of a country road, was attended by around 1,000 guests. CDU federal MP Paul Ziemiak and Jens Spahn, a member of Angela Merkel's cabinet, were also present.
Söder used the opportunity to express his desire for a stronger Germany, criticizing the citizen's income and praising Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor, for holding his own against US President Donald Trump on the topic of the Ukraine war. He also rejected the idea of loosening Bavaria's holiday rules.
Wüst, on the other hand, highlighted North Rhine-Westphalia's ambition to become the number one AI hotspot in Europe. He compared Bavaria to North Rhine-Westphalia, stating that Bavaria is laptop and Lederhose, and North Rhine-Westphalia is the path from coal to AI.
Both leaders emphasized the similarities between their regions. Söder joked about wanting to go to space, but not to the moon, while Wüst praised Bavaria's strong economy and culture.
The Isselburg brass band had to repeat its Bavarian march five times due to the length of the speeches by Söder, Wüst, and Spahn. The ZDF Today Show team was present at the event, which is probably a first for the 70,000-inhabitant city of Bocholt.
Paul Ziemiak described the attendees as "reasonable, normal people." The event, which was intended to support the Union candidate and incumbent mayor Thomas Kerkhoff, took place in a hall that was probably not associated with the "mask affair" involving Jens Spahn.
The political party that Söder and Wüst supported in Bocholt, alongside Kerkhoff, is the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Hendrik Wüst, NRW Minister-President, also attended the event to support the Union candidate.
