ATHENS — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has characterized U.S. President Donald Trump as an attention seeker, highlighting a notable moment from their early meetings.
Speaking at an event organized by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini in Athens to promote the Greek translation of her memoir — “Freedom” — Merkel reflected on an incident from March 2017 where Trump notably refused to shake her hand in the Oval Office, choosing instead to do so outside the room when the cameras were off.
“I made the mistake of saying, ‘Donald, we should shake hands,’ and he didn’t. He wanted to draw attention to himself. That’s what he wants: to distract and have everyone look at him,” Merkel explained.
She further noted that Trump’s tactics, such as imposing tariffs, were ultimately aimed at gaining favorable results for the American public, emphasizing the necessity for him to prove his capabilities at home.
Merkel urged European unity in the face of Trump’s policies, recommending that Europe should not be intimidated by the administration’s tariff impositions but instead consider reciprocal tariffs of their own.
“I’m not saying we should break off relations with the U.S., but we must negotiate. Even the U.S. cannot survive alone,” she stated. She expressed concern over rhetoric from figures like Vice President JD Vance, suggesting conditional support based on adherence to a specific concept of freedom, which she argued could threaten democratic values.
The dynamics between Merkel and Trump have been complex, with the former chancellor noting in her memoir that Trump viewed global relations through the lens of a property entrepreneur.
“He judged everything from the perspective of the property entrepreneur he had been before politics. Each property could only be allocated once. If he didn’t get it, someone else did. That was also how he looked at the world,” she reflected.
Merkel articulated Trump’s perception of global competition, observing that he seemed to believe that the success of one nation equated to the failure of another, failing to grasp the potential for mutual prosperity through cooperation.
The former chancellor’s visit to Athens coincided with the approaching tenth anniversary of Greece’s bailout referendum in 2015, an event that she recalled as a pivotal point in her political career.
Describing her phone call with former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras about the referendum, she said it left her “speechless” when she learned he would campaign for a “no” vote, a decision that had the potential to lead Greece out of the eurozone.
Despite initial tensions, Merkel noted that she and Tsipras grew closer over time, appreciating his honesty throughout their dialogue.
In her remarks, she compared her discussions about Greece’s debt with former U.S. President Barack Obama, suggesting that he lacked understanding of the differing operations between the EU, the European Central Bank, and the Federal Reserve.
Amid the pressures of leadership, Merkel shared a personal moment, reflecting on how the stress of negotiations led her to burst into tears during a summit, adding with humor, “A woman cries during a summit.”
In her final comments, Merkel remarked on her strong belief in Greece’s importance to Europe, stating firmly, “I cannot imagine Europe without Greece as a strong member.”
image source from：politico
