Heads of state who visit the White House - specifically because the US president himself arranged it?

Factual Questions
1

Trying to keep this non-political:

Recently, the South African leader visited the White House - and then Trump ambushed him by showing him photos of “slain white farmers” that weren’t even from South Africa - and then the German chancellor Merz visited the White House and Trump made some ill-advised remarks about D-Day.

But - were these heads of state at the White House specifically because Trump requested for them to come? Or does someone else arrange the visits and Trump just looks at his schedule and says, “Well, okay, guess I’m going to a state dinner with the Brazilian president tomorrow?”

I can’t quite see any particular pattern behind who gets invited to the White House, such as when Reagan’s administration invited the leaders of Jordan, Oman, Sri Lanka, el Salvador, Mali, etc. or when Clinton’s administration invited the leaders of Morocco, Chile, Czech Republic, Ghana, Colombia, etc.

2

Well, in the case of chancellor Merz, the USA has been our closest and most important ally since 1945, but the relationship has become, say, a little shaky since Trump first took over and much more in his second term. The most important goals of the German government regarding cross-Atlantic relations are convincing the US to take Ukraine’s side in the war and getting rid of the silly tariffs. I don’t know who scheduled the visit of Merz, but I think it was initiated by the German side immediately after Merz got chancellor.

And the same would go for other heads of state, relations to the US as still one of the greatest powers on earth are crucial to almost any country.

3

I had a router glitch, so too late to edit:

In Merz’ case, I know that he and Trump had several phone conversations after Merz’ election as chancellor. I guess Merz said at some time “Let’s meet”, and Trump (or his administration) agreed. It’s not (so far) like Trump holds audiences like the Pope or an absolute monarch.

4

At this point, I’m losing respect for any head of state/head of government who accepts such an invitation.

5

What’s the alternative? Stop talking and waving your hands in the air? That’s not an option, neither for the EU or the NATO.

6

That was an awkward moment. Merz reminded Trump that the next day was the anniversary of D-Day, in orrder to remind him what responsibility the USA had taken in WWII, and Trump had nothing better to say than “This must have been a bad day for you”. Merz was obviously irritated, responding (I’m all paraphrasing here) “Well yes, no, well, it was the beginning of the liberation of Germany and Europe from the nazis. That’s why you should help Ukraine now”. Shows how historically tone-deaf Trump is. I’m not a fan of Merz, but in this case he stood his (and our nation’s) ground.

7

The alternative is just that. Refuse to deal with the lunatic. And announce exactly why.

8

That’s not how politics and diplomacy has ever worked, even with lunatics.

9

[Moderating]

Not trying very hard, were you?
Make up your mind whether you want a political thread or a nonpolitical one, and then start a thread of that type in the appropriate forum. This is closed.