WASHINGTON – (AP) Apr 27, 2018 — President Donald Trump welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the White House on Friday for a visit of fewer than three hours. He greeted Merkel outside the West Wing…

Though her visit will be short on pomp, Merkel's message was similar to Macron's — that America and Europe need to bury the hatchet on key issues, from global trade to international security.

In a joint press conference Friday afternoon, it was apparent that despite the back-to-back visits, Trump's divisions with Europe are still substantial.

Trump is widely expected to withdraw the U.S. from the Iran nuclear accord next month, despite pleas from Macron earlier this week and Merkel Friday. Merkel used her meeting with Trump to try to paper over the differences, calling the Obama-era agreement a "first step" toward curtailing and containing Iran's regional ambitions and suggesting an openness to a side agreement.

Trump has said he was open to new negotiations with Iran but has not said whether he would heed European calls for the U.S. to stay in the deal, which aims to restrict Iran's nuclear efforts, while those talks are underway. His decision is expected by May 12.

In the hours before Merkel's arrival at the White House, Trump himself took note of their limited schedule, which was to include a 30-minute Oval Office meeting, followed by a working lunch and joint news conference.

"Look forward to meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany today," Trump tweeted. "So much to discuss, so little time! It will be good for both of our great countries!"…