World News@lemmy.worldEnglish • 22 hours ago

Merkel: I mistook Trump for ‘someone completely normal’

www.theguardian.com

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Merkel: I mistook Trump for ‘someone completely normal’

www.theguardian.com

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World News@lemmy.worldEnglish • 22 hours ago

Memoir of former German chancellor recalls US president’s soft spot for tyrants and apparent fascination with Putin

Summary

In her memoir Freedom, Angela Merkel reflects on her misjudgment of Donald Trump, initially treating him as “completely normal” before realizing his emotional nature and authoritarian inclinations.

She recounts his attempts to humiliate her, his zero-sum worldview, and fascination with autocratic leaders like Vladimir Putin.

Merkel also critiques Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and his hostility toward Germany.

Addressing her legacy, she discusses tensions with Putin over NATO and acknowledges criticism of her reliance on Russian gas and liberal refugee policies.

Chat

Capt. Wolf
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19 hours ago
Exactly, anyone just now saying “I didn’t know” or “I thought he was normal” is either stupid or trying to cover their ass.
- AwesomeLowlander
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  5•17 hours ago
  It’s not ‘now’, it’s at the time that he was first elected.

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