Merkel campaign program no longer calls US a 'friend'

Merkel campaign program no longer calls US a 'friend'
By Jacqueline Thomsen - 07-03-17 12:04 PM EDT

The German election program produced by Chancellor Angela Merkel's party no longer refers to the U.S. as a "friend," Reuters reported Monday.

The program - which represents the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union parties - now calls the U.S. Germany's "most important partner" outside of Europe.

The 2013 edition described the U.S. as Germany's "most important friend" outside Europe and called the "friendship" a "cornerstone" of German foreign and trade policies, according to Reuters.

This change in wording highlights the divide between Merkel and President Trump since Trump took office. Merkel said in May that Germany could no longer "completely depend" on the U.S. as a consistent partner.

Merkel also tried to convince Trump to not leave the Paris climate agreement and called their talks on climate at the Group of 7 summit "unsatisfying."

She told Germany's Parliament last week that she's ready to confront Trump about climate at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Germany.

Trump frequently criticized Merkel during the U.S. presidential campaign last year, attacking her immigration policy as "insane."