Awkward: After trashing her on campaign trail, will Trump get along with Merkel?
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel at an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, March 9, 2017. Olivier Matthys AP
WASHINGTON
While campaigning for president, Donald Trump slammed
Chancellor Angela Merkel for “ruining” Germany. He called her decision to
allow more than a million refugees into Germany “insane.” He even predicted
that Germans would overthrow her.
Chancellor Angela Merkel for “ruining” Germany. He called her decision to
allow more than a million refugees into Germany “insane.” He even predicted
that Germans would overthrow her.
Trump, now the president of the United States, and Merkel, still the leader
of Germany, will come face to face for the first time Friday at the White House.
of Germany, will come face to face for the first time Friday at the White House.
Merkel, ranked as the second most powerful person in the world by
Forbes last year, is expected to ignore Trump’s criticism altogether and
move forward on forming a relationship with the brash new leader of one
of Germany’s closest allies.
Forbes last year, is expected to ignore Trump’s criticism altogether and
move forward on forming a relationship with the brash new leader of one
of Germany’s closest allies.
After nearly a dozen years as chancellor, Merkel is known for her successful
track record on dealing with notoriously difficult leaders, including Russian
President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. German media report that
she has been studying Trump’s speeches and interviews to prepare for the
visit.
track record on dealing with notoriously difficult leaders, including Russian
President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. German media report that
she has been studying Trump’s speeches and interviews to prepare for the
visit.
“She’s used to awkward meetings. She’s handled them quite well,” said
Constanze Stelzenmueller, an expert on German, European and trans-
Atlantic policy at the Brookings Institution, a research center. “You don’t
linger over the personal.”
Constanze Stelzenmueller, an expert on German, European and trans-
Atlantic policy at the Brookings Institution, a research center. “You don’t
linger over the personal.”
Merkel had good relationships with Trump’s predecessors, Republican
George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama. Despite allegations that
the Obama administration wiretapped her cellphone, Merkel and Obama
maintained a close partnership. She was the last world leader he called
before leaving office.
George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama. Despite allegations that
the Obama administration wiretapped her cellphone, Merkel and Obama
maintained a close partnership. She was the last world leader he called
before leaving office.
Trump and Merkel differ on substance and style. They disagree on values and how those values translate to policy, including immigration, trade, defense spending and the role of the European Union. A Trump adviser recently accused Germany of depressing the euro to gain a trade advantage.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL WILL MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME FRIDAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE, FOLLOWED BY A NEWS CONFERENCE.
“I think Germany views
the United States with
equal portions of
puzzlement and concern
at the moment,” said Jeff
Rathke, senior fellow and
deputy director of the
Europe Program at the
Center for Strategic and
International Studies.
the United States with
equal portions of
puzzlement and concern
at the moment,” said Jeff
Rathke, senior fellow and
deputy director of the
Europe Program at the
Center for Strategic and
International Studies.
The two leaders are expected to meet, have lunch and host a joint news
conference. Perhaps in the hopes of relating to a former businessman,
Merkel will be joined by the CEOs of automaker BMW and industrial
firm Siemens.
conference. Perhaps in the hopes of relating to a former businessman,
Merkel will be joined by the CEOs of automaker BMW and industrial
firm Siemens.
Trump and Merkel are not expected to announce any new agreements.
Their meeting was scheduled for Tuesday but then postponed three days
after a snowstorm on the East Coast.
Their meeting was scheduled for Tuesday but then postponed three days
after a snowstorm on the East Coast.
They’ve spoken by phone but have never met. Vice President Mike Pence
visited with Merkel in Germany recently. Their aides have met.
visited with Merkel in Germany recently. Their aides have met.
The list of possible topics for their talk is long: NATO, the United Nations,
the fight against the Islamic State, the situation in the Middle East,
Afghanistan, North Korea, climate change and defense.
the fight against the Islamic State, the situation in the Middle East,
Afghanistan, North Korea, climate change and defense.
THE STAKES FOR THIS MEETING . . . AND FOR THIS RELATIONSHIP EVEN MORE SO, ARE VERY HIGH.Heather Conley, senior vice president for Europe, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Trump will seek Merkel’s advice in dealing with Putin, according to the
White House, and many other world leaders hope that Merkel, who speaks
Russian and was raised in East Germany, will be able to educate him.
White House, and many other world leaders hope that Merkel, who speaks
Russian and was raised in East Germany, will be able to educate him.
“The president will be very interested in hearing the chancellor’s views on
her experience interacting with Putin,” said a senior administration official
with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly.
“Of course, she’s been doing this for more than a decade. She’s met with
Putin, I think, for at least a couple of dozen times. And so he’s going to be
very interested in hearing her insights and what it’s like to deal with the
Russians.”
her experience interacting with Putin,” said a senior administration official
with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly.
“Of course, she’s been doing this for more than a decade. She’s met with
Putin, I think, for at least a couple of dozen times. And so he’s going to be
very interested in hearing her insights and what it’s like to deal with the
Russians.”
Trump, who has long been accused of being too friendly with Russia and
Putin, has said he would consider lifting the sanctions imposed on Russia
for its annexation of Crimea, along with suggesting that he’d be open to
recognizing Crimea as Russian territory. U.S. officials are investigating
Russia’s attempts to influence the November American election, including
whether money from the Kremlin covertly aided Trump.
Putin, has said he would consider lifting the sanctions imposed on Russia
for its annexation of Crimea, along with suggesting that he’d be open to
recognizing Crimea as Russian territory. U.S. officials are investigating
Russia’s attempts to influence the November American election, including
whether money from the Kremlin covertly aided Trump.
“His comments on Russia are worrisome to European leaders,” said James
Kirchick, a fellow with the Foreign Policy Initiative who’s author of the
forthcoming book “The End of Europe: Dictators, Demagogues and the
Coming Dark Age.” “She’s going to try to set him straight.”
Kirchick, a fellow with the Foreign Policy Initiative who’s author of the
forthcoming book “The End of Europe: Dictators, Demagogues and the
Coming Dark Age.” “She’s going to try to set him straight.”
Merkel will stress to Trump the importance of the European Union. In turn,
Trump will press Merkel for Germany’s commitment to abide by a NATO
guideline to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product on their military
budget, according to the White House.
Trump will press Merkel for Germany’s commitment to abide by a NATO
guideline to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product on their military
budget, according to the White House.
“He does believe that Germany, as one of the largest economies within
NATO, should be setting an example and should be leading by example,
as we do from the United States,” the official said.
NATO, should be setting an example and should be leading by example,
as we do from the United States,” the official said.
Merkel did not respond to Trump’s criticism during the campaign. Since
then, she has pushed back against some of his policies.
then, she has pushed back against some of his policies.
She criticized his original travel ban on citizens from seven majority-
Muslim nations, and explained to him over the phone that the Geneva
Conventions require countries to protect refugees on humanitarian grounds.
Muslim nations, and explained to him over the phone that the Geneva
Conventions require countries to protect refugees on humanitarian grounds.
She defended the news media after Trump tweeted that journalists are “the
enemy of the American people.”
enemy of the American people.”
“I stand by a free and independent press and have great respect for
journalists,” she said last month at the Munich Security Conference, which
Pence attended.
journalists,” she said last month at the Munich Security Conference, which
Pence attended.
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