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Photo: AP
Obama and Merkel
Photo: AP

Opposites Day: Merkel laughs with Obama hours before meeting Trump

Former US president Obama was in Berlin for panel discussion as Trump reached NATO summit in Brussels; German Chancellor Merkel was all smiles as she joined Obama on panel, 2 hours before she was obliged to deal with Trump, as he demanded Europeans pay off debts.

The New York Times analyzed the US President Donald Trump's visit to Europe while his predecessor, Barack Obama, was close by on a visit of his own.

 

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, perhaps the most important leader in Europe was given particular focus, as she met with both men. Her interactions with each were starkly different: while Merkel participated in Berlin panel discussion with Obama and saing his praises as president, she sounded much more restrained when present two hours later in Brussels, alongside Trump and other NATO leaders.

 

Obama speaks with Merkel

Obama speaks with Merkel

סגורסגור

שליחה לחבר

 הקלידו את הקוד המוצג
תמונה חדשה

שלח
הסרטון נשלח לחברך

סגורסגור

הטמעת הסרטון באתר שלך

 קוד להטמעה:

 

 

Merkel with Obama while on the the Berlin panel (Photo: Reuters)
Merkel with Obama while on the the Berlin panel (Photo: Reuters)

 

Obama praised Merkel for doing "outstanding work, not just here in Germany but around the world" regarding refugees, before the 100,000 people who arrived at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to hear their discussion.

 

Trump and Merkel at the NATO meeting in Brussels (Photo: Reuters)
Trump and Merkel at the NATO meeting in Brussels (Photo: Reuters)

 

Later that day, however, Merkel was forced to deal with Trump's demand that NATO members contribute their share and meet economic commitments. Among other points, Trump noted that 23 of the 28 member states did not pay what their share for their own protection, which he stated put an undue burden on US tax-payers.

 

On a somewhat lighter note, Trump also brought on himself a fair share of incredulity for pushing aside the Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Markovic as he made his way to the front, during a joint photo of the NATO leaders. 

 

Trump shoves Markovic aside    (צילום: רויטרס)

Trump shoves Markovic aside

סגורסגור

שליחה לחבר

 הקלידו את הקוד המוצג
תמונה חדשה

שלח
הסרטון נשלח לחברך

סגורסגור

הטמעת הסרטון באתר שלך

 קוד להטמעה:

 

The New York Times noted that despite past tensions between Obama and Europe, especially after Edward Snowden's leak that revealed the US was regularly listening in European leaders via the NSA, he had been welcomed by Europeans leaders due to his commitment to a united Europe and the security of the continent, as opposed to Trump, who now stressed that Europe must pay up.

 

Both American presidents had also had also recently had their fair share on intervening in European elections. During the recent French elections, for inatance, Obama called now President Emmanuel Macron and expressed his support in a video that Macron made sure would be filmed.

 

"I have admired the campaign that Emmanuel Macron has run," Obama said. "He has stood up for liberal values; he put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world; and he is committed to a better future for the French people. He appeals to people's hopes, and not their fears."

 

Obama said he doesn't plan to get involved often in political situations. "I'm not planning to get involved in many elections now that I don't have to run for office again, but the French election is very important to the future of France and the values that we care so much about. Because the success of France matters to the entire world," he said.

 

Trump, however, had praised Macron's rival, the far-right Marine Le Pen. "Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!" Trump tweeted after the attack near the Champs-Elysées last month before the elections. In the end, though, Trump bet on the wrong candidate, as Macron beat out Le Pen by a large margin.

 

Trump and Merkel among the other NATO leaders in Brussels (Photo: AFP)
Trump and Merkel among the other NATO leaders in Brussels (Photo: AFP)

 

According to German officials, Merkel spoke to Trump after she learned that she would be meeting with him and Obama on the same day, to avoid the appearnace of an intended slight (Obama's participation in the panel was schedule a year in advance). The New York Times added that her meeting with Trump "presented Ms. Merkel with an opportunity for her to demonstrate that both sides need each other," but that in the end, pictures of the day showed her with “the good American who everyone is already missing,” and then with Trump, “the other America which needs to be dealt with."

 

The editor of Der Spiegel also had an opinion on Trump. "He cannot be the president of the United States," wrote the editor Klaus Brinkbäumer. "Trump is not intellectual enough nor is he morally built to deal with this role. He should be ousted from the White House because he is a danger to the world."

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.26.17, 17:07
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