The former German chancellor, Angela Merkel, will go on sale next Tuesday, November 26, a book titled Freedom. In this 700-page novel, Merkel collects her memoirs, which she began writing in 2021, as soon as she left her position as head of Germany after four consecutive terms since 2005.
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As published by german newspaper The time about some chapters of the bookMerkel has highlighted her first meeting with the president of the United States, Donald Trump, back in 2017, when he assumed his first term. Furthermore, the former German leader acknowledges that her first mistake with Trump was treating him as if he were “completely normal.” He even claims that the American has a predilection for tyrants and is fascinated by the figure of Vladimir Putin.
In their first meeting at the White House, according to the president, Trump tried to humiliate her by refusing to shake her hand in front of the event’s photographers. “Instead of enduring it stoically, I whispered to him that we should shake hands again,” says Merkel. “As soon as the words left my mouth, I shook my head. How could I forget that Trump knew exactly what he was doing? He wanted to give people something to talk about with his behavior, while I had acted like I was having a conversation with someone completely normal,” he adds.
According to Merkel, “Trump was apparently fascinated with the Russian president,” she said in reference to Putin, and noted that “politicians with autocratic and dictatorial traits had him captivated.”
Trump, a radical politician compared to the rest
In the rest of the excerpts published by the German media, Merkel describes the president of the United States as an “emotional” person motivated by grievance and need, a political profile that radically clashes with the “factual” approach of the German and European politics. “It seemed like his main goal was to make the person he was talking to feel guilty… At the same time, I had the impression… that he also wanted the person he was talking to to sympathize with him,” Merkel points out.
After their first meeting, the German president describes Trump as a born competitor and makes clear the conflictive relationship that existed between the two: “He saw everything as the real estate developer he was before entering politics,” she said. “For him, all countries were rivals in which the success of one meant the failure of another. He did not believe that prosperity could increase for all through cooperation,” Merkel notes in her book.
Given Merkel’s contrasting “factual” approach to politics with Trump’s “emotional” style, what specific examples from her memoirs illustrate the challenges and successes of these differing approaches in navigating global affairs?
## Angela Merkel’s “Freedom”: An Interview
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we’re discussing Angela Merkel’s upcoming memoirs, “Freedom,” which offers a rare glimpse into her time as German Chancellor and her perspective on key world events. Joining us are Dr. [Guest 1 Name], a renowned political scientist specializing in transatlantic relations, and Ms. [Guest 2 Name], a journalist who has extensively covered Angela Merkel’s career.
**Section 1: Reflections on Trump**
* Dr. [Guest 1 Name], Merkel describes Trump’s behavior on their first meeting as an attempt at humiliation. How significant was this gesture in shaping her perception of him and setting the tone for their relationship?
* Ms. [Guest 2 Name], Merkel claims that Trump “treated her like someone completely normal.” What do you think she might have gained or lost by adopting this approach?
* Both guests, Merkel highlights Trump’s “fascination” with autocratic figures like Putin. How might this observation influence our understanding of Trump’s foreign policy decisions and his approach to international alliances?
**Section 2: Clashing Political Styles**
* Dr. [Guest 1 Name], Merkel describes Trump’s political style as “emotional” and driven by resentment, contrasting it with the “factual” approach common in German and European politics. How did these differing styles impact their interactions and potentially global affairs?
* Ms. [Guest 2 Name], Merkel suggests Trump saw international relations through a ”zero-sum” lens, where one nation’s gain is another’s loss. How did this perspective differ from Merkel’s own, and what were the potential consequences for global cooperation?
**Section 3: Legacy and Impact**
* Dr. [Guest 1 Name], Merkel’s memoirs offer a unique perspective on a turbulent period in global politics. How do you think these insights will contribute to our understanding of this era and Merkel’s legacy?
* Ms. [Guest 2 Name], what impact do you think Merkel’s firsthand account will have on public perception of her leadership and her dealings with world leaders like Trump?
* Both guests, do you think ”Freedom” will spark a renewed debate about the challenges faced by democracies in the 21st century, and the role of individual leaders in navigating them?
These are just some of the questions we hope to explore in this discussion.
We encourage viewers to share their own thoughts and questions in the comments below.
