Frank-Walter Steinmeier
President of Germany 
Germany
Racism
Remarks on Arab Citizens and Hamas (November 2023)
In November 2023, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made remarks urging people of Arab and Palestinian descent in Germany to clearly distance themselves from Hamas and antisemitism. Speaking at a roundtable with Jewish and Muslim leaders in Berlin on November 8, he emphasized that while individuals have the constitutional right to express their pain over civilian casualties in Gaza, such expressions should not include calls for the destruction of Israel or support for terrorist organizations like Hamas
Steinmeier stated, "I urge you, the people with Palestinian or Arab roots here in Germany, do not let yourselves be instrumentalized by the accomplices of Hamas!". He further asserted that those who call for the destruction of Israel are not entitled to the same freedoms of expression guaranteed by Germany's constitution
Steinmeier stated, "I urge you, the people with Palestinian or Arab roots here in Germany, do not let yourselves be instrumentalized by the accomplices of Hamas!". He further asserted that those who call for the destruction of Israel are not entitled to the same freedoms of expression guaranteed by Germany's constitution
Morality
Refusal to Meet the Dalai Lama (2008)
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has not publicly refused to meet the Dalai Lama in a manner widely reported in the media, unlike the 2008 case with Horst Köhler.
Steinmeier, who became president in 2017, has generally maintained careful diplomatic relations with China. While he has avoided high-profile meetings with the Dalai Lama in his official capacity-likely to prevent tensions with Beijing-there is no documented instance of a formal refusal that attracted major public attention similar to the 2008 Köhler case.
Steinmeier, who became president in 2017, has generally maintained careful diplomatic relations with China. While he has avoided high-profile meetings with the Dalai Lama in his official capacity-likely to prevent tensions with Beijing-there is no documented instance of a formal refusal that attracted major public attention similar to the 2008 Köhler case.