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stoney faced
Donald Trump tried to joke about wiretapping with Angela Merkel. She didn't laugh
The two leaders met in the White House.
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US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump said that himself and Angela Merkel might have “something in common”, as he repeated his baseless claim that Trump Tower was wiretapped by previous President Barack Obama.
Trump hosted the German Chancellor at the White House today in a meeting in which the pair spoke about trade and Nato.
In a joint press-conference after the meeting, Trump addressed the ongoing controversy over his claim.
Pointing towards his German counterpart, Trump said.:
When it comes to wiretapping of this past administration, at least we have something in common, perhaps.
Merkel did not say anything in response.
There were reports in 2013 that the US had been listening in on Merkel’s mobile phone.
Meanwhile, British intelligence agency GCHQ said that it was “utterly ridiculous” to suggest that it had tapped Trump Tower on behalf of Obama.
“Recent allegations made by media commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano about GCHQ being asked to conduct ‘wiretapping’ against the then-president elect are nonsense,” a spokesperson for the GCHQ said.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer had quoted the Fox news analyst who made the claim.
“You shouldn’t be talking to me, you should be talking to Fox,” Trump said in response to the controversy.
Members of Congress from both parties who are investigating the wiretapping allegations have found no evidence to support them.
- With reporting by Associated Press and © – AFP 2017
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