White House says Trump, Merkel 'get along very well'

From R-L, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrive for a family photo at the start of G7 Summit at Greek Theatre in Taormina, Sicily, Italy, May 26, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump views Germany as an important U.S. ally and gets along very well with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the White House said on Tuesday. Speaking at a news briefing after Trump intensified a dispute with Germany by calling Berlin's trade and spending policies "very bad," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said: "They get along very well. He has a lot of respect for her. ... And he views not just Germany but the rest of Europe as an important American ally." (Reporting by Jeff Mason)