The article presents the incident like a somewhat awkward faux pas from Merkel’s side; to me it seems more likely that Merkel’s “stony” facial expression could be a deliberate one, indicating openly that not all is so harmonious, without offending.

As an avowed friend of the US, she says that working with Obama is fun.  She´s not hiding that there has been some disagreement though, e.g. on new stimulus spending. Also the following statement about their discussions could be read as expressing in part actual fact, but also wishful thinking for the future and like that entail some criticism.

I could also imagine though that there really is a cultural difference that has been misunderstood, and that Merkel’s expression is a rather typically “German” way of showing that she takes her job seriously, the matters discussed are important ones and she doesn´t

take her responsibility too lightly.  

Germans, as a whole, are much blunter,no nonsense, get to the bottom line culture. It's not meant to offend. They simply look at it as being efficient. Something they are very proud of. It's not a fault, just different. You had better have a pretty thick skin. in order to do business with Germany. I know, I'm one. We don't do "mellow" very well.

I see globalization as a fatal U.S. mistake. There were other better ways to deal with future economic problems ... than to sell out our economic sovereignty! Jobs are the bloodstream of all economic success. The jobs should have stayed home, and the unions should have been forced to lower their demands even at the point of the gun, if that's what it took. It was a difficult choice between solving our problems at home not so "democratically," and becoming dependent on China in dangerous subjection. At the advice of braind mysterious think tanks,  America preferred to give away her know-how and economic prowess to an enemy Communist power. The Bible has always condemned such mistakes. Another fatal mistake was the inability of the leaders, in the U.S. and in Europe, to join forces. Instead, they went separate ways, tripling the problems ahead. I see Angela Merkel as co-responsible for this latter disastrer for the world's future, European future, and American future! What is even more dangerous, is that to this day most U.S. and American leaders do not understand the nature of the beast that already knocks at their door! The Beast's name is  the New World Order with China in the lead!