On Trump, Merkel’s Face Does the Talking

BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany refuses as a rule to touch upon the inner affairs of different nations or go judgment on their leaders. The president of the United States isn’t any exception.

However that hasn’t stopped her letting her face from doing the speaking, reflecting confusion, befuddlement or exasperation concerning President Trump as the state of affairs required. On Friday, she was at it once more.

Requested throughout her annual summer time information convention about a claim made by Richard Grenell, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany, that he had “watched President Trump attraction the chancellor of Germany,” Ms. Merkel drew her eyebrows collectively, tilted her head and leaned towards the reporter.

“He did what?” she requested.

“Charmed,” repeated Marina Kormbaki, a journalist with the German reporting collective R.N.D.

“Ah, OK,” Ms. Merkel mentioned. Then she added with amusing, “I don’t discuss inner discussions.”

In his speech at the Republican conference on Wednesday, Mr. Grenell laid out his interpretation of Mr. Trump’s “America First” overseas coverage as one which meant fewer wars and larger burden sharing amongst allies — together with Germany.

Mr. Trump had charmed Ms. Merkel whilst he was insisting that Germany pay up extra as a member of NATO, Mr. Grenell mentioned.

His remark sparked outrage over social media, the place he has an energetic and outspoken presence, and introduced derision on each side of the Atlantic.

“Enormous fact-check required,” Susan Glasser of The New Yorker said on Twitter. Different customers responded with compilations of images of the chancellor’s reactions to Mr. Trump from their conferences over the previous 4 years.

Many, like that of a stern-looking Ms. Merkel, flanked by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Emmanuel Macron of France, leaning over a desk towards a defiant Mr. Trump, have spawned numerous social media memes.

Others highlighted the chancellor’s grim expressions whereas standing subsequent to the U.S. president throughout information conferences.

“Clear to see,” Ursula Barth wrote on Twitter with a laughing emoji. “The jokes from the U.S.A. simply conserving getting higher.”