Proud grandson of an immigrant pimp, rejected for citizenship by Bavaria and one or two other German states when he tried to leave America and return to Germany ...
NEWS
ANGELA MERKEL SNORTS AS DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE HAS 'GERMAN IN MY BLOOD'
BY DAVID BRENNAN ON 8/27/19 AT 5:27 AM EDT
resident Donald Trump has been mocked after remarking that he has German in his blood while expressing excitement over a proposed future trip to Germany.
Trump made the comments during a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, prompting the veteran leader to raise her eyebrows and seemingly laugh at the president's reference to his German ancestry.
Though the pair have never enjoyed a particularly warm relationship, Trump lavished the chancellor with praise during their meeting at the G7 conference being held in Biarritz, France this weekend, Deutsche Welle reported.
Trump said Merkel—who is no longer the leader of her party and plans to step away from political life when her fourth term ends in 2021—is a "brilliant woman" and "understands exactly where everything is, she knows it before most people."
Though Merkel has publicly ruled out remaining in politics after what will have been more than 15 years in office, Trump suggested the chancellor may surprise observers and be around "for a long time."
A reporter asked Merkel whether she had invited Trump for a bilateral visit to Germany, to which the chancellor said she had done so "on previous occasions."
Though the president has made brief stopovers in Germany to attend a G20 summit and on his way back from Iraq, Trump is yet to have made a full diplomatic visit to Europe's largest economic power. He has, however, visited both the U.K. and neighboring France twice.
Trump added, "We'll be there...we're very honored by the invitation—and that's true—and we will be there. Maybe soon." He then declared: "I have German in my blood," eliciting raised eyebrows and a snort of laughter from the chancellor.
The president has often touted his European heritage in the past, though until the 1980s claimed his grandfather came from Sweden rather than Germany. According to The Telegraph, this may have been driven by a desire to hide the family's German links following World War II and the Holocaust.
He has since warmed to the idea of his European heritage, even falsely claiming that his father, Fred, was born in "a very wonderful place" in Germany. He was, in fact, born in the Bronx.
The president's ancestors were from the village of Kallstadt in the west of Germany. His grandfather Friedrich—later Frederick—came to the U.S. in 1885 and made his fortune during the Yukon gold rush in Alaska. He became rich by establishing a series of hotels that also served as brothels.
Though Friedrich tried to return to Germany as a rich man, he was denied residency because he failed to complete military service. He subsequently returned to the U.S. and settled in New York.
Reporters pressed the president on a possible timeline, suggesting he could visit Germany before his scheduled trip to Poland at the end of this week. Trump, however, said it may be too difficult to arrange a visit at such short notice.
