Obama urges Trump to stand up to Russian Federation

“In terms of core values, her integrity, her thoughtfulness, her doig her homework knowing her facts, looking out for the interests of the German people first, but realising that part of good leadership means engaging with the wider world …”

The Chancellor said she would “do everything possible to work well with the newly-elected president”.

Mrs Merkel and Mr Obama have enjoyed a close relationship over the years, and he seems to be counting on the German leader’s strength to help counter the isolationist tone voiced by Mr Trump during the election campaign. They also discussed about migration, trade, border issues and climate change. “They see themselves as part of a global economy that they can navigate successfully”.

“You can not purchase people’s consent through killing them”, he said. She says her country will continue to pursue free trade deals with the United States.

As for the limit on USA presidents serving two terms, Merkel said simply, “It’s a tough rule: Eight years and that’s it”.

“I am sure that one day we can come back to it”, she added.

But there were clear signs of potential divisions ahead as she spoke of the importance of climate protection, and her hope that stalled trade deal negotiations between the European Union and United States could be restarted.

It was important that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations would be maintained, said Obama at a joint press conference with Merkel after their meeting at the chancellery in Berlin.

Although the relationship hit a bump in 2013 when it was revealed the U.S. National Security Agency had been monitoring the chancellor’s cell phone, tensions were smoothed over after Obama acknowledged Germany’s anger and promised new guidelines for monitoring. Prior to visiting Germany, Obama flew into the Greek capital of Athens on Tuesday to hold talks with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

“I am glad that she is there”.

The US President also pleaded with young people to remain engaged in the political process outside of election years, warning that democracy was under threat from a combination of low participation, online propaganda and extremist thinking. “Certainly I have appreciated her as a partner”.

Speaking in Berlin, Mr Obama said he hoped the USA president-elect “does not simply take a realpolitik approach” to dealing with Russian Federation.

“And if you’re not serious about the job, then you probably won’t be there very long”. But seeing that Trump “likes” Putin, one can only hope that the 45 President of the United States knows how to stand up to the fiercest authoritarian leader of the century.

Reflecting on his eight-year presidency, the US leader said his travels around the globe have shown him that while “every country travels its own path”, there is “fundamental desire” for dignity and self-determination.

The E.U. and USA launched negotiations for the TTIP in 2013, but failed to seal the deal during the remaining time of Obama’s second term.

“It was a euphoric mood, a little bit like when the Berlin Wall fell”.

Mr Obama clearly thinks Mr Trump is the cause of this uncertainty.

Obama’s current visit to Germany comes as a sort of bookend to his trip there as a candidate back in 2008, when he addressed a crowd of thousands at Berlin’s Victory Column.

A BuzzFeed News investigation in the last three months of the presidential campaign revealed that the top-performing fake election news stories on Facebook generated more engagement than the top stories from major news outlets.