President Trump appeared to ignore German Chancellor Angela Merkel when she suggested they should shake hands at a meeting at the White House last Friday.
During the press app at the Oval Office, ahead of a conference to discuss issues including trade and immigration, photographers suggested that the two leaders shake hands for the camera, before Merkel turned to Trump and asked: “Do you want a hand shake?”
Trump appears to ignore the statement and continues to look forward.
Commentators have called the exchange ‘awkward’, with some citing that men ignoring women in a professional setting is a phenomenon not altogether unfamiliar to women.
We demand an apology.#ApologyToAngelaMerkel #MerkelTrump #TrumpApologize #Shameful #Misogyny #WomenForJustice pic.twitter.com/1rHnnTrAQf
— WomenForJustice (@MainWfJ) March 19, 2017
Press Secretary Sean Spicer told German publication Der Spiegel: “I don’t think he heard the question.”
Trump also responded to the news coverage of meeting with Merkel, insisting the reports were inaccurate.
He tweeted: “Despite what you have heard from the FAKE NEWS, I had a GREAT meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.”
Despite what you have heard from the FAKE NEWS, I had a GREAT meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Nevertheless, Germany owes…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2017
The two have been critical of each other in the past. Trump attacked Merkel’s policy to allow refugees in Germany, referring to the move as a ‘catastrophic mistake’, while Merkel condemned Trump’s Muslim ban.
Watch the video of the interaction below.
