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riversedge

(80,040 posts)
Fri Jul 4, 2025, 07:01 AM Jul 2025

BREAKING: Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel pounds the drums for Europe to stand up to Donald Trump's coercive tari [View all]




BREAKING: Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel pounds the drums for Europe to stand up to Donald Trump's coercive tariffs and slams J.D. Vance's opinions about "freedom" as a grave threat to democracy.

This is what real global leadership looks like...

“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 said at an event in Greece, recalling an infamous Oval Office meeting during which Trump refused to shake her hand on camera, only to then shake it when the cameras left.

“You can see this in what he is doing with the tariffs. Ultimately, he must deliver good results for the American people. He has to prove his abilities, at least to his own country,” she continued.

She urged Europe to “stand united and not be intimidated when Trump imposes more tariffs on the bloc, but we should retaliate with tariffs of our 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,” said Merkel.

“I see a problematic development. When Vice President Vance says, ‘We are partners, and we will only support you if you agree with our concept of freedom,’ which means no rules and no controls, that is indeed a threat to our democracy,” she added......................



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