A Siemens executive and his family died in a helicopter crash in New York's Hudson River, with reports mentioning that one child had a birthday. The tragic event received extensive coverage throughout the day.
China dramatically escalated the trade war with Trump, raising tariffs on US imports to 125%, mirroring Trump's previous levels. This caused market turbulence with DAX falling and gold prices rising. By afternoon, reports suggested Trump could be facing his "Liz Truss moment" as economists warned of potential dollar collapse, and he reportedly began dismissing his tariff advisors. Tesla halted sales in China amid the escalation.
Domestically, media reported four teenage suspects were identified for right-wing extremist threats against Duisburg schools. The CDU/CSU-SPD coalition agreement was finalized, with Merz expected to be elected Chancellor on May 6 despite polls showing declining public trust. News emerged that the coalition nearly collapsed on Monday morning before reaching agreement.