On Friday, President Donald Trump met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House. From the moment the two spoke to the conclusion of the press conference, social media users and Hollywood stars were quick to point out how awkward the entire situation was.
Trump and Merkel
It's no secret that Angela Merkel and Donald Trump don't see eye to eye when it comes to politics. Merkel was a strong ally of Barack Obama with both holding more liberal views. With the election of Trump, it was expected that the relationship between the United States and Germany would change.
When Merkel arrived in Washington, D.C. on Friday, the two world leaders met at the White House, and then had photos taken by the press. During the exchange, the German chancellor asked Trump if he wanted to shake her hand, but the president ignored her request. When the two took part in a press conference sometime later, the president attempted to joke about his wiretapping conspiracy, but it didn't go over to well. As seen across Twitter on March 17, social media users were quick to troll the former host of "The Apprentice."
When asked to shake hands by reporters and photographers, Trump and Merkel didn’t budge https://t.co/Av1S0FkWod pic.twitter.com/JGhRaywDDW
— CNN (@CNN) March 17, 2017
"The pathological liar uses Angela Merkel to continue his lying crap & press laughs.
He may be POTUS but he's sick," actor and director Rob Reiner tweeted out, before adding, 'Don't normalize." Actor George Takei, who is often outspoken against the president, also chimed in with his thoughts. "Yesterday Sean Spicer accused UK of spying on Trump. Today Trump refused to shake Angela Merkel's hand," Takei tweeted, while sarcastically noting, "This is how they treat our friends.
The pathological liar uses Angela Merkel to continue his lying crap & press laughs. He may be POTUS but he's sick. Don't normalize.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) March 17, 2017
Yesterday Sean Spicer accused UK of spying on Trump. Today Trump refused to shake Angela Merkel's hand. This is how they treat our friends.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 17, 2017
While celebrities gave their thoughts, other Twitter users voiced their opinions using movie quotes and satirical memes.
Trump quickly became the viral butt of the joke, as the opposition to the billionaire real estate mogul continued.
President Trump repeats wiretapping claim while standing beside Angela Merkel https://t.co/c3KlcjT5rI pic.twitter.com/3wVi15dANM
— TIME (@TIME) March 17, 2017
@CNN @realDonaldTrump Someone who claims to "respect" women. Can't even be a gentleman for the sake of our country. He is a embarrassment.
— Dori Kesson (@dori_kesson) March 17, 2017
More fake news
Another uncomfortable moment during the press conference came in the form of Donald Trump accusing a member of the German media of reading "fake news" after claiming he is an "isolationist." "I don’t know what newspaper you’re reading, but I guess that would be another example of, as you say, fake news," Trump said, as Angel Merkel looked stunned in the process.
LOL: see Merkel's face
— (REAL) POTUS 4 US (@saneplanet) March 17, 2017
after Trump tells German reporter she's reading “fake news” pic.twitter.com/LaKIxxyVEM #FlashbackFriday #StPatricksDay
Donald Trump's allegations of "fake news" have become one of his go-to talking points when hit when reports that he doesn't agree with. Despite often using debunked or inaccurate information to back up his own claims, it doesn't appear like facts are going to get in the way of the Trump administration anytime soon.
