In her upcoming memoir, Freedom, Angela Merkel reflects on her interactions with former U.S. President Donald Trump, revealing his fascination with leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin. The German Chancellor describes her first meeting with Trump in Washington in March 2017, shortly after he was elected, where he expressed keen interest in her background and her relationship with Putin.
Merkel shares that Trump asked her many questions about her East German upbringing and her ties to Putin. She notes that Trump seemed particularly intrigued by the Russian leader, adding that she later observed a pattern where Trump appeared captivated by politicians with autocratic and dictatorial tendencies.
The memoir, co-written with her long-time political advisor Beate Baumann, is set to be released in 30 languages on Tuesday. It is expected to provide new insights into Merkel’s leadership during her four terms in office, from 2005 to 2021, a period when she was regarded as one of the world’s most influential leaders.
Merkel also recounts a troubling feeling she had after her first meeting with Trump. Although Trump greeted her with a handshake in front of the press, when journalists asked for a second handshake, he ignored them. Merkel quietly suggested they shake hands again, but Trump did not acknowledge her hint.
During their discussion, Trump repeated criticisms he had made during his election campaign, accusing Merkel of damaging Germany by accepting refugees in 2015 and 2016. He also claimed that Germany spent too little on defense and had unfair trade practices. The sight of German cars in New York seemed to particularly bother him.
Merkel describes their conversation as being on two entirely different levels: Trump focused on emotional arguments, while she responded with factual explanations. She adds that when Trump did engage with her points, he often twisted them into fresh accusations. Resolving the issues did not seem to be his priority.
By the end of the meeting, Merkel concluded that cooperation with Trump on a global scale would be impossible. She reflects that Trump viewed the world through the lens of his past as a real estate mogul, where one country's success meant another’s failure.
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