Donald Trump and Angela Merkel unable to conceal their differences in substance and style during first public appearance together
Trump complimented Merkel’s job creation but reiterated baseless wire-tapping claims and later appeared to snub Merkel’s invitation to pose for a handshake in front of photographers
US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to sidestep their differences in a meeting at the White House on Friday but their first public appearance was punctuated by some awkward moments.
During a photo op in the Oval Office, the two did not shake hands before reporters. Trump pushed back against the notion in Europe that his “America First” agenda means he’s an isolationist, calling such a suggestion “another example of, as you say, fake news.” And he referred to the US as “a very powerful company” before quickly correcting that to “country”.
When a German reporter asked Trump if he regrets any of his commentary on Twitter, Trump said: “Very seldom.”
Merkel maintained her composure even when Trump repeated his contention that former president Barack Obama may have tapped his phones in Trump Tower. He sought to turn the explosive charge into a light joke when asked about concerns raised by the British government that the White House is now citing a debunked claim that UK spies snooped on Trump.
“At least we have something in common, perhaps,” Trump said casually, referring to 2013 reports the US was monitoring Merkel’s cellphone conversations. As for the most recent report, Trump said he shouldn’t be blamed for quoting a Fox News analyst who had accused British intelligence of helping Obama spy on him.
When the subject turned to economic issues, Merkel attempted to project a conciliatory approach. She said the “success of Germans has always been one where the German success is one side of the coin and the other side of the coin has been European unity and European integration. That’s something of which I’m deeply convinced.”