Photo: AFPStark differences between President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on everything from trade to immigration were in full view during an icy first meeting at the White House Friday. In a frequently awkward joint press conference, Trump and Merkel showed little common ground as they addressed a host of thorny issues including NATO, defense spending and free trade deals. Trump on Friday pledged to "respect historic institutions" but Bannon, also in the East Room, gave a chuckle as Merkel was asked whether she believed Trump had lied and treated the European Union disrespectfully. Trump insisted he was not isolationist, saying: "I'm a free trader but also a fair trader." Merkel rejected Trump's suggestion that individual European countries should negotiate free trade deals with the United States, rather than under existing EU-US negotiations.

Source: The Local March 17, 2017 20:48 UTC