Merkel Ignored Biden When He Wanted to Make Her His First Call as POTUS, Report Says

© AFP 2023 / Alex WongGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) shares a moment with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden (2nd R) as Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (R) looks on after Merkel addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill November 3, 2009 in Washington, DC.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) shares a moment with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden (2nd R) as Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (R) looks on after Merkel addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill November 3, 2009 in Washington, DC. - Sputnik International, 1920, 24.09.2021
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Joe Biden officially became the 46th president of the United States on 20 January 2021. His first call to a foreign leader in his new capacity went to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson several days after his inauguration.
Having occupied the Oval Office, Joe Biden planned to address his first call as president to German Chancellor Angela Merkel but was apparently blown off by her, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The move was planned by Biden as a signal of return "to transatlantic normality after the turbulence of the Trump era", aides told the WSJ. But Merkel had other plans since she was enjoying her time off in a country house near Berlin, gardening and walking by a lake.
According to the report, the chancellor had "dismissed the symbolism as irrelevant", asking her staff to reschedule the call with the US president at a later time.
Instead, Biden had to place his first presidential call to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, discussing how the two countries will deepen their longstanding alliance as they emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joe Biden became the president of the United States on 20 January, and has met with Merkel twice since then, the first time during the G7 summit in Cornwall in June and then at a White House tête-à-tête in July.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and U.S. President Joe Biden take the stage for a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on July 15, 2021 in Washington, DC. During what is likely her last official visit to Washington, Merkel and Biden discussed their shared priorities on climate change and defense; and Biden voiced his concerns about the Nord Stream 2 Russian natural gas pipeline. - Sputnik International, 1920, 16.07.2021
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Merkel is set to step down from her position as German chancellor after 16 years in charge. The election to replace her is scheduled to take place on Sunday. When commenting on her plans after the chancellorship, Merkel said she will do "nothing", later suggesting that she may travel.
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