berlin control cautious physicist east germany take time make decisions never relish attention come europe powerful leader wealthy real estate magnate new york shoot hip enjoy spotlight hard imagine two leaders different style substance angela merkel german chancellor donald trump new president unite state months engage uneasy long-distance skirmish policy value friday meet first time high-stakes encounter watch governments around world clue future transatlantic alliance partnership help shape global order since world war two trump threaten upend think go become good friends probably different personalities say charles kupchan advise trump predecessor barack obama european policy member national security council think strong interest politically strategically learn work together arguably important meet foreign leader trump presidency german officials say detail-oriented merkel 62 prepare assiduously trip meet initially due tuesday postpone friday due severe winter storm expect washington watch trump speeches pore interview include lengthy playboy magazine 1990 float many controversial ideas try implement president say members entourage also analyze trump encounter leaders include britain theresa may japan shinzo abe canada justin trudeau exchange counterparts handle unpredictable former reality-tv star officials add prepare fact like listen long prefer clear position want delve detail say one senior german official economic foreign policy divide two leaders appear vast trump 70 call merkel decision allow hundreds thousands refugees germany catastrophic mistake threaten impose tariff german carmakers import u.s. market criticize berlin spend defense longstanding u.s. complaint merkel promise address another source tension germany 50 billion euro trade surplus unite state trump adviser peter navarro accuse germany gain unfair trade advantage weak euro merkel minister point european central bank berlin control fate europe single currency russia also agenda white house officials say trump seek advice merkel deal russian president vladimir putin part merkel critical trump travel ban target citizens several mainly muslim countries phone call january explain trump geneva convention oblige signatories include unite state take war refugees humanitarian ground merkel also concern trump repeatedly praise britain decision leave european union might continue undermine bloc rhetoric time deep crisis trigger rise anti-eu populist party europe fragile precarious state germany try ensure european integration project hold together suspect chancellor want make clear president say anthony gardner serve u.s. ambassador european union january opportunity sketch areas common interest define positive agenda add one meet change atmosphere own trump third u.s. president merkel europe longest-serving leader work establish good rapport george w. bush keen repair tie germany clash merkel predecessor gerhard schroeder iraq war although relations obama get awkward start merkel rebuff request speak brandenburg gate 2008 presidential campaign two grow close time cooperate sanction russia launch negotiations transatlantic free-trade deal part hard merkel acknowledge obama visit berlin november week trump victory german leader walk fine line washington election loom home september must avoid offer political opponents ammunition cozying trump neither afford open confrontation might damage german interest one big concern chancellor camp visit potential surprise japan abe awkward 19-second handshake trump may criticize section british media hold hand trump stroll white house apparently reach steady israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu meet trump last month team spend day run endless scenarios line question role-plays ensure prepare scenario end still take aback trump speak cuff news conference sensitive issue settlements future palestinian state merkel admit uncomfortable surprise child draw christmas wish-list months advance avoid catch off-guard unexpected gift trump might expect unexpected merkel meet trump clash style substance