Continued Criticism from German Leaders and Politicians on Trump's Policies

Following German Chancellor Angela Merkel's speech on Sunday, where she stated that Europe can no longer fully rely on the United States, she reiterated a similar sentiment at a conference in Berlin, saying, "Europe must take its destiny into its own hands." Merkel's political rival in the German elections also directly criticized Donald Trump. On June 27, in a speech to supporters of the ruling party in Germany, the Chancellor emphasized the importance of maintaining friendly relations with European allies, Britain, and the U.S., but noted that the continent can no longer fully depend on them: "The time when we could completely rely on others is coming to an end. I have come to this conclusion in recent days." On June 28, at a conference in Berlin, Merkel again stressed her belief in the importance of close relations between Europe, Britain, and the U.S., while stating that the days of "relying on others are over." Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's Foreign Minister, simultaneously criticized what he termed the "short-sighted" policies of the U.S. President, stating that these policies weaken the West and harm European interests. Gabriel remarked, "Anyone who accelerates climate change by undermining the environment, anyone who sells more weapons in a war zone and does not want to solve problems arising from religious conflicts through political means, puts peace in Europe at risk." On Tuesday, the Chancellor's spokesperson emphasized Germany's commitment to bilateral relations with Europe and the U.S., stating that Merkel's recent comments about relations with the United States were "only her personal opinion." Although Merkel's viewpoints have been reiterated, she is not alone in expressing such sentiments, as political rivals of the Chancellor have also voiced similar "doubts." Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democrats, Merkel's main rivals in the upcoming general elections in September, stated that Europe must achieve greater unity and solidarity: "Stronger cooperation among European countries, at all levels, will be a response to Donald Trump." Schulz, however, went beyond Merkel's criticisms, accusing Trump of being an "autocratic leader" who seeks to "humiliate others." Donald Trump, the U.S. President, who began a nine-day trip starting from Saudi Arabia and concluding in Europe, emphasized upon his return to Washington that the meeting with the leaders of the seven largest economies in Italy was "extremely constructive." Trump stated he succeeded in "strengthening" U.S. relations. The final statement of the G7 meeting highlighted the leaders' discussions on two topics: "global economy" and "continuation of sanctions against Russia." However, the leaders of these countries added that they could not reach a common point on the issue of "climate change." The U.S. President stated that he would make decisions this week regarding the agreements made to combat climate change. During his trip, Trump criticized Germany for falling short of NATO's payment and military budget goals and the status of car exports. In this context, the failure of G7 leaders regarding climate change agreements coincided with calls for cyber warfare. The President of the European Union advised G7 leaders to maintain sanctions against Russia. The spokesperson for the Chancellor of Germany stated that Merkel's comments about America were her personal opinion. The U.S. President described his trip to the Middle East and Europe as a "complete success." Merkel stated that Europe can no longer fully rely on the U.S. and Britain.