The United States is the most severely affected by the corona pandemic worldwide. Still, President Donald Trump is targeting a real G7 summit. He has now received the first rejection.
- Donald Trump is targeting a real G7 summit in the U.S. despite the corona pandemic.
- The heads of state and government are scheduled to meet in Washington in June.
- The US President has now received the first rejection from Germany.
Berlin / Washington - US President Donald Trump is repeatedly criticized for his corona policy. Now the Republican has ventured the next tricky maneuver - inviting you to a physical G7 summit. Almost immediately he received a basket from Germany for his plans.
Chancellor Angela Merkel is unlikely to fly to the US for the planned G7 summit in June . "The Chancellor thanks President Trump for his invitation to the G7 summit. As of today, given the overall pandemic situation, she cannot promise her personal participation, ie a trip to Washington, ”said a government spokesman in Berlin on Saturday.
Merkel will "keep an eye on the development of the corona pandemic ," said the spokesman. Accordingly, the 65-year-old made a phone call to Donald Trump *. First, the US magazine Politico , citing government spokesman Steffen Seibert, reported on the cancellation.
Trump invites in spite of Corona: Merkel refers almost immediately to the bad situation in "friendly countries"
The Chancellor's decision fits her recent comments perfectly. Germany has so far passed the “test” Corona , Merkel said in her weekly video message published on Saturday . "We all together, an overwhelming majority of the people in our country, have been guided by caution, reason and responsibility for others." "We saved a lot. Our joint achievement is what fortunately we didn't do. ”
At the same time, Merkel warned against underestimating the risks . “Some people now believe that because the great mass suffering has not occurred, the danger has never been so great. What a mistake! ”A look at friendly countries shows what could have happened - this could mean, in addition to EU countries such as Italy, France or Spain, the USA. The Chancellor also received praise for her corona policy from a well-known doctor on Saturday.
G7 summit in Washington: Donald Trump plans real meeting despite corona pandemic
In March, the White House had already announced that due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus *, the summit could not be held in Trump's Camp David estate, but had to be replaced by a video conference by the heads of state and government of the seven most important industrialized countries. But meanwhile, US President Trump * is targeting a real G7 summit in late June .
According to Trump, his country is already recovering from the pandemic so that the summit can take place, but "primarily" in the White House in Washington . A summit with the personal participation of the heads of state and government would be "a great sign of the normalization of everyone," said the 73-year-old.
Merkel does not travel to the G7 summit in Washington - USA worst hit by corona pandemic
The United States is the most severely affected by the corona pandemic worldwide. More than 1.7 million infections have already been detected there , and more than 102,000 infected people have died . According to the latest data, the US capital Washington DC and its metropolitan area are also particularly affected by corona infections. Trump is accused of underestimating the new corona virus and reacting inadequately.
In addition to the USA and Germany, the G7 also includes France, Italy, Great Britain, Canada and Japan. The annual summits alternately host the member countries.
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
dpa / AFP
Rubric list image: © AFP / ANDREW HARNIK