Trump Hosts Angela Merkel

President Donald Trump finally addressed his claim that his White House predecessor wiretapped him Friday, joking that he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had “something in common, perhaps”.

The order was blocked by USA courts, and Trump released a revised version in March.

The chancellor is staying pragmatic in advance of her visit. And it’s her first personal encounter with a new president. Spicer and Darroch had spoken by telephone on Tuesday the diplomat said, during which time Darroch asserted that there was no basis to the report.

And with a number of pressing issues on their agenda – the future of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the strength of the European Union, deterring Russian Federation, combating terrorism – there is no shortage of items to discuss. And for us, Judy, the USA has been nearly the most important worldwide and foreign policy partner over decades. “Well-trained people working in our manufacturing and sales operations in the US are the basis for our success in this country”. It has helped us to unify Germany.

Trump insisted he was not isolationist, saying: “I’m a free trader but also a fair trader”. He’s been critical of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Smith countered that it was “more interesting” that important questions like those weren’t asked by US reporters and said he was “thankful” that these reporters asked those questions.

Merkel, who is seeking reelection later this year, reportedly told a German newspaper, “It’s always better to talk with each other than about each other”.

But the administration has not stopped pressing North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members to pay their fair share. We’re ready for this discussion. Though it has committed to boosting defense spending this year, Germany will still fall short again. “We don’t want victory”.

“Germany, which has open arms for terrorist organisations.is trying to instigate the whole of Europe against Turkey”, the daily said.

His behaviour has prompted an angry reaction from Europe, with Merkel and French President Francois Hollande lashing the comments as “unacceptable” on Thursday. And she maintained her poker face when President Vladimir Putin denounced Western sanctions as unfair.

JUDY WOODRUFF: You expect that to come up? “We’ve been dreaming of this since I’ve been around – since you and I were drinking at a keg”.

JUDY WOODRUFF: We spoke about North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. BMW employs almost 70,000 people in the United States, while Siemens employs around 50,000. It may be a greater test for Merkel to find common ground with a president who peddles unproven allegations and celebrates the weakening of the European project.

And let me add this. The Trump administration is still considering entering into the proposed trade agreement with the European Union, known as the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP).

He called it, among other things, “a sad shame and a disgrace”.

Merkel will underscore the value of German businesses to the USA economy, according to a senior adviser. She is not one to exaggerate, nor does she fashion herself as anti-Trump.

Germany is the third largest export economy in the world; in 2016 it enjoyed a record surplus of more than 8% of GDP, according to the country’s statistics agency.

In an August speech on terrorism he compared her policies to those of his then-rival, Hillary Clinton.

It’s not just that she heads the Christian Democratic Union Party, defined as centre-right.

But the White House’s refusal to back down has created more problems for the new administration.

“The preconditions. are probably the worst we’ve seen so far”, said Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, a former minister of defense, economics and technology in the German government. “It’s a very strong alliance where we are united together”.

PETER WITTIG: Thank you, Judy. Trump’s antipathy towards the EU will only cause Merkel to defend the European project all the more.