Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel revealed in her upcoming memoir that she sought advice from Pope Francis on dealing with former US President Donald Trump regarding the Paris climate agreement.
Merkel saw Trump’s business background as a challenge, stating, “He saw everything from the perspective of the property developer he was before entering politics. Each parcel of land could only be sold once, and if he didn’t get it someone else did. That’s how he saw the world.”
When Merkel asked the Pope for advice on handling individuals with “fundamentally different views,” she felt he understood she was referring to Trump and the climate accords. According to Merkel, the Pope advised, “Bend, bend, bend, but make sure it doesn’t break.”
The memoir, “Freedom: Memories 1954-2021,” details Merkel’s experiences with various world leaders, including Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is set for release on November 26 in over 30 countries.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel will release her memoir, “Freedom: Memories 1954-2021”, on November 26th. The book will be available in over 30 countries and details Merkel’s political career, including her relationship with former US President Barack Obama and her interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Merkel, who led Germany for 16 years, gained international recognition for her handling of the Eurozone debt crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia’s initial 2014 invasion of Ukraine. Some even dubbed her the “leader of the free world” in contrast to then-US President Donald Trump.
However, the memoir comes as Merkel faces scrutiny for her government’s reliance on Russian energy, which critics argue paved the way for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Germany’s current economic struggles.
In the memoir, Merkel reveals her insights into Putin’s character, describing him as someone who “didn’t want to be disrespected, ready to lash out at all times.” She recounts a conversation where Putin, discussing Ukraine’s potential NATO membership, told her: “You won’t always be Chancellor, and then they’ll join NATO…And I want to prevent that.”
Merkel implies Putin timed the 2022 invasion with her departure from office, highlighting his strategic approach. She also criticizes some Central and Eastern European leaders for wishing Russia would simply disappear, stating: “They seem to want the country to just disappear, to not exist. I couldn’t blame them… But Russia, heavily nuclear armed, did exist.”
Merkel will launch her memoir in the US on November 26th at an event with former President Barack Obama.