Spot the difference between the two leaders' responses
Compare and contrast the following statements from the leaders of two Western democracies upon the election of Donald Trump as US president.
The first is from the British Prime Minister, Theresa May:
“I would like to congratulate Donald Trump on being elected the next President of the United States, following a hard-fought campaign.
Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. We are, and we will remain, close partners on trade, security and defence.
I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump, building on those ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead.”
All very pleasant. Now read the statement released by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel:
“There’s no country we Germans have as close a relationship with as the United States of America. Whoever rules this vast country, with its enormous economic strength, its military potential, its cultural influence, carries a responsibility which is felt all over the world.
Americans have decided that the person to carry this responsibility for the next four years is Donald Trump.
Germany and America are connected by common values: democracy, freedom, respect for the law and for human dignity irrespective of origin, skin colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political conviction.
On the basis of these values, I offer the future president of America, Donald Trump, a close working relationship.
Partnership with the USA remains a basic pillar of German foreign policy in order for us to meet the great challenges of our time: striving for economic and social wellbeing and a forward-looking climate policy, the fight against terrorism, hunger and disease, engagement for peace and freedom, in Germany, Europe and all over the world.”
Spot the difference.
Yet another reminder we should drop the jokes about Germany and authoritarianism. Living in the past is the problem to begin with, and we’re increasingly on shaky ground to be pointing fingers.
Adam Barnett is staff writer for Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBarnett13
See: ‘Devastating’, ‘heartbreaking’, ‘clearly wrong’ – progressives respond to Trump’s election
21 Responses to “Trump: Angela Merkel shames Theresa May with message for next US president”
Mick
Common values, huh? The ‘common values’ Germany only has because the Americans were leaders in the alliance which, for freedom, CRUSHED Germany’s long-cherished imperialist dreams ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Common values, I suppose, which led to the Brexiteers losing the refe…., actually, we won it. Won it for TRUE values of democracy and freedom which Merkel wants the EU to steal from sovereign nations!
The lady is a once-admired disgrace, May is a coming great stateswoman, while the Obama – the woman Merkel prefers in a president – came to the UK to TELL us not to leave the EU!
DIsgusting, disgraceful, interfering and graceless. Left Foot Forward are inspired.
Mick
And anyway, Trump has no problem with different people – he marries them. The Germans, however, do, as Germany and Europe has been ravaged by an unchecked invader crimewave.
We’d have it here, too, if bitching leftists had their way and the borders were fully opened.
WHOSE common values?
Eric
I am surprised you think Merkel’s note is better than May’s. Merkel says “On the basis of these values, I offer … a close working relationship.” This is not a congratulations at all. It is a plea for The Donald to not honour what he campaigned on and the reason he was elected. Not going to happen!
May on the other hand, hits the nail on the head – “… building on those ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead”. Note that our two nations want to be secure and prosper. Who cares about the rest of the world. And that is exactly what The Donald means by “Making America Great”. America was to be rich and powerful. May wants the UK to be the same. She is offering a partner for both to achieve this.
Lynne
Mick – Americans were not leaders in WWl or WWll unless you count them playing ‘catch up’ with UK those men and women who escaped Nazi Germany to fight to free their homelands. So please do not rewrite history. The Americans did join with us, eventually, but by definition to lead you have to be there from the beginning to show the way not halfway through.
Guy
In reply to ‘MICK’ :
No one is condoning the acts of either side in WWII and I think it’s time we moved on as the article suggests. Go far back enough in the history of any first world nation and you find imperialist dreams. Look at Britain’s own record on that front.
You speak of ‘True values of democracy and freedom.’ I don’t believe that the EU is perfect but it is arguably a more democratic institution than our own parliament under FPTP, it is absurd that parties can pick up a significant percentage of the populus vote without that being reflected by seats won in parliament. If anything I want more representation not less. Whether you like it or not – the decisions made by the EU, regardless of whether we are members or not, WILL effect us and I’d rather have some say than none.
Your assertion that ‘Trump has not problem with different people’ is too flawed almost for words. Firstly what on earth do you mean by ‘different’ people?! – since you seem to be so keen to draw parallels between now and the WWII, here’s another one; that kind of ‘them and us’ rhetoric was a major driving force behind Hitlers campaign which sparked the Holocaust, it is not the rhetoric of a tolerant, global society. Secondly, your argument that he has ‘no problem with ‘different people’ because he marries them’ is like saying he has the utmost respect for women because he marries them- something we have seen to be categorically untrue.
To use your own words, I find you ‘disgusting, disgraceful, interfering and graceless.’ Open your eyes and see that the world is changing and that we must change with it; we must treat people with the respect that they deserve regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion etc. we must acknowledge that climate change exists and commit to trying our hardest to stop its progress and we must strive to ensure, not only that we work globally to forge friendship and cooperation between nations, but also that we heal the divides in our own countries.
This is bigger than Trump beating Clinton or Brexit beating Bremain, people’s rights are at stake and we can’t continue to treat politics like one big game to be won or lost.