Trump’s Germany envoy ignites fresh political furor

Bloomberg

President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Germany ignited a fresh political furor after telling news website Breitbart he wants to “empower” conservative forces across Europe,
compounding already tense trans-Atlantic relations.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry said it will seek a clarification over the comments by US Ambassador Richard Grenell when he meets a deputy foreign minister on Wednesday. Grenell said in an interview published by Breitbart that he sees a “resurgence” of conservatism across Europe.
“I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders,” Grenell said. “I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left.”
The 51-year-old ambassador’s foray into European politics less than a month into the job marks the second time political Berlin has bristled at his Trump-style diplomacy. On May 9, hours after he started his ambassadorship and coinciding with Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear accord, Grenell said on Twitter that German companies should wind down operations in Iran immediately.
The US envoy wasn’t explicit in the interview with Breitbart which brand of European conservatism he wanted to empower, and made no mention of Germany’s Angela Merkel.