Obama gets rock-star welcome in Berlin, praises Merkel

“Chancellor Merkel has done outstanding work, not just here in Germany, but around the world,” Obama said.

After lauding Merkel, he launched a defence of his own presidency and the values of liberal democracy championed by both leaders.

Citing the rise of nationalism and xenophobia in parts of the world, Obama told the crowd that “we have to push back against those trends that would violate human rights or suppress democracy or restrict individual freedoms.”

In a veiled reference to his successor Donald Trump, who has proposed to cut support for diplomacy and international aid by nearly a third, Obama said those programs are essential aspects of national security policy.

“We can’t isolate ourselves. We can’t hide behind a wall,” he said, to cheers from the audience.

The former president and the chancellor, who grew up in a pastor’s household in East Germany, chatted about their faith and called on the youth to commit to helping make the world a better place — while keeping in mind that changes don’t come quickly from one day to the next.

Referring to the terror attack in England just days ago, Obama said that he and the chancellor were “heartbroken about the loss of life … and that it’s a reminder that there is great danger and terrorism and people who want to do great harm to others just because they’re different.”

Despite describing the world as “a very complicated place,” Obama and Merkel still found time to joke with each other and made the crowd laugh several times. The harmony and ease between the two leaders was a stark contrast to Merkel’s meeting with Trump in Washington in March, when the U.S. president appeared to refuse to shake Merkel’s hand in front of reporters. Trump has said he didn’t hear a reporter calling for a handshake.

Merkel, who hosted Obama at the same spot four years ago, was due to travel to Brussels later Thursday for a meeting with Trump and leader of other NATO-member states.

Kirsten Grieshaber And Frank Jordans, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Obama gets rock-star welcome in Berlin, praises Merkel

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