Merkel: I will announce decision on fourth term at right time

In their final, hour-long press conference, Mr Obama thanked Germany for its assistance in the fight against worldwide terrorism and praised Dr Merkel’s leadership in the refugee crisis and her efforts to secure peace between Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Trump, in contrast, has called climate change a “hoax” and said the climate accord should be renegotiated.

“I think our politics everywhere are going to be going through a bumpy phase”, Obama said, an attempt to downplay the wave of nationalist populism that has spread across Europe and propelled Trump’s victory. The president had mocked Trump as unworthy of being trusted with the nuclear codes as someone who could be “baited with a tweet”.

Obama said he spoke to Trump last week about ensuring that his actions help to unify and not divide the country.

After his meeting with Trump, Obama sought to reassure US allies that the president-elect would maintain core relationships around the world, including with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. “[If we are] unable to compromise and engage in the democratic process and taking absolutism views. then democracy will break down”.

White House officials said on Wednesday that during his meeting with Merkel, the outgoing U.S. president will highlight shared values, thank the German chancellor for her friendship during his eight years in office, and try to ease concerns about the future of a transatlantic partnership that President-elect Donald Trump may now call into question.

Ahead of a joint appearance later Thursday, the two penned an op-ed piece recognizing the painful side of freer trade along with a sober reality check.

The two leaders never mentioned Trump by name.

“As we close down Daesh’s areas of operation in one part of the world we need to be mindful of the fact that they may regroup in other parts and how we set about tackling that”.

“The phrase “leader of the free world” is usually applied to the president of the United States, and rarely without irony”, Timothy Garton Ash, a historian and professor of European studies at Oxford University, wrote Friday in Britain’s left-leaning Guardian newspaper.

Obama also criticised low Democratic turnout in the November 8 election that resulted in Trump’s victory. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for instance, is rushing to NY for an early meeting with Trump.

The US president has been keen to give moral support to the western liberal democratic order which has been so shaken by the Trump victory. She has treated Trump with caution so far.

While acknowledging that they have not always been on the same page every issue, he cited Merkel’s “integrity, her truthfulness, her thoughtfulness” among traits he appreciated.

He issued a warning to Trump in his dealings with Russian Federation, cautioning that on issues like Ukraine and Syria, Moscow must be confronted head-on.

“This is my sixth visit to Germany, it will not be my last”, Mr Obama told the news conference.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says her country is prepared to increase its military commitments as demanded by allies such as the United States. His last stop on his final foreign tour will be Peru over the weekend.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the world can’t revert to a time before globalization.

They’ll meet again this afternoon for talks.