On Saturday, German Labour Minister Hubertus Heil said the U.S. presidential election was “not over yet” as he travelled to Washington for talks with political leaders and NASA.

Mr Heil is the first German minister to visit the United States since President Joe Biden’s disastrous performance in a June TV debate with former president Donald Trump, who is seen as the front-runner in November’s election after surviving an assassination attempt last week.

The minister refused to be drawn on whether Biden should withdraw his candidacy or seek a second term in office after weeks of difficult questions about the 81-year-old’s fitness for the presidency.

Mr Heil, a member of Germany’s centre-left Social Democratic Party, said the German government has had “very intensive trans-Atlantic relations with the Biden administration.”

While he admitted his political sympathies were with Mr Biden’s Democrats, Mr Heil said Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government would be ready for any eventualities.

“Even though, as a Social Democrat, I am keeping my fingers crossed for the Democrats, we will have to prepare for all possible scenarios,” the minister said.

Whatever happens in November, Germany and Europe will have to deal with the election result, he added, with trade relations, the future of Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza conflict are likely to be impacted differently.

The agenda for Heil’s three-day trip includes talks with U.S. Labour Secretary Julie Su and the Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott.

The minister is aiming to discuss the future of the world of work, including the impact of artificial intelligence.

A visit to the U.S. space agency is on the cards for Monday. 

(dpa/NAN)