Merkel’s visit to Biden: quiet satisfaction and subtle punchlines

Ka question: This moment is a silent satisfaction for Angela Merkel. Joe Biden stands next to her in the East Room of the White House and bows – in rhetorical terms – to the guest from Germany: Merkel’s chancellorship has “historical character”, he says. You have “groundbreaking services” to Germany and the world. She always stood up for what was right and defended human dignity.

Majid Sattar

Political correspondent for North America based in Washington.

Since the visit on Thursday was presumably the Chancellor’s last visit to the White House, Biden adds: Although he knows that the partnership between the two countries will be even stronger on the foundation that Merkel helped to build. But personally he had to say: that he will miss her. “I really will.”