World joins US protests but leaders restrained about Trump

 People have taken to streets of Berlin, London, Paris and or cities around world to demonstrate in support of Black Lives Matter protesters in United States and to vent anger over President Donald Trump’s response to police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. But at top, leers of tritional allies of United States have taken pains to avoid criticizing Trump directly, walking a fine line to reconcile international diplomacy with domestic outr.

Canian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau let silence speak for itself when asked to comment on decision to forcibly clear peaceful protesters outside White House to make way for a Trump photo-op at a nearby church, standing pensively at his lectern apparently mulling his answer for more than 20 seconds before answering that Cana also suffered from “systemic discrimination” — never mentioning American president.

“We need to be allies in fight against discrimination, we need to listen, we need to learn, and we need to work hard to fix, to figure out how we can be part of solution on fixing things,” he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel sidestepped questions from ZDF public television about Trump last week, saying killing of Floyd was "really, really terrible. Racism is something terrible, and society in United States is very polarized.”

When pressed, she conceded that Trump’s “political style is a very controversial one” but would go furr when asked if she h confidence in him.

A combination of factors are at work, including diplomatic courtesy but also pragmatism based on possibility that Trump will be reelected to ar four years in vember, said Sudha David-Wilp, deputy director of Berlin office of German Marshall Fund think tank.

“It wouldn't be proper for his peers to criticize, especially when it's very obvious that y are concerned that United States is going through an incredibly difficult time — you have triple whammy of an ecomic depression, health crisis and w, of course, social unrest due to questions of racism,” she said.

But she said it's difficult for leers like Trudeau and Merkel, who "are seen as defenders of liberal democracy, and President Trump has trampled on many of values that undergird liberal democracy, such as protection of mirities, such as freedom of assembly, such as freedom of press.”

Merkel’s verbal gymnastics could have been anticipated — in more than 14 years as chancellor, she has steered clear of ever critiquing allied world leers — but even leers who typically support Trump, like Hungary’s Viktor Orban or Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu have stayed silent on this issue.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has sought to cultivate close ties with Trump, called Floyd's death “appalling” and said people have a “right to protest to make ir feelings kwn about injustices such as what happened to George Floyd” but urged peaceful demonstrations.

Britain has seen several protests turn violent, and last weekend demonstrators in Bristol toppled statue of a 17th-century slave trer. y also spray-painted an iconic statue of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill in London, calling him “a racist.”

Asked Wednesday in Parliament to name Trump's good qualities, Johnson stuck to generalities.

“Mr. Trump, he has, amongst many or things, he is president of United States, which is our most important ally in world today,” Johnson said. "Whatever people may say about it, whatever those on left may say about it, United States is a bastion of peace and freedom and has been for most of my lifetime.”

France’s Emmanuel Macron, who has in past steered clear of criticizing Trump specifically but has been vocal in speaking out against policies like wine tariffs introduced by ministration, has t me a public appearance since Floyd was killed on May 25.

Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes even after he stopped responding. Three days later, ar black man wrid on street in Paris as a white police officer pressed a knee to his neck during an arrest.

France h several protests over past week, with growing pressure on government to dress accusations of brutality and racism within police force.

Macron’s office said president is closely monitoring events in France and United States but “he did t wish to speak for moment.” He's expected to dress nation Sunday but his office did t give furr details.

A few leers have spoken out more strongly, like Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who criticized response to protests in U.S. as “authoritarian” when pressed in parliament last week for an explicit response on Floyd’s killing.

“I share and stand in solidarity with demonstrations that are taking place in United States,” he said.

And rwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg told country’s NTB news ncy last week that she was “deeply concerned about what is happening in United States.”

“ fundamental challenge of making mirities feel part of a society is essential. We must all work with that,” she said. “One has to try to bridge gap. It is t good for any society to be as deeply divided as United States is w.”

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-do said last week that it "cant be right that, in 21st century, United States, this great bastion of democracy, continues to grapple with problem of systemic racism.” And South African President Cyril Ramaphosa ted “naked racism in United States,” calling protests a turning point. Neir mentioned Trump by name.

Russian President Vlimir Putin has t weighed in, but Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called situation in U.S. “ridiculous.”

“I would like to believe that before showing ir zeal in protecting rights of ‘suppressed’ and ‘dissenters’ in or countries, U.S. authorities will start to scrupulously observe democratic standards and ensure freedoms of ir citizens at home,” she said.