President Trump appears to ignore Chancellor Merkel's offer of a handshake in the Oval Office
Video report by ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore
There was a highly uncomfortable moment at tonight's meeting between Donald Trump and Germany's Angela Merkel.
When the leaders appeared in front of the cameras in the Oval Office, the President appeared to ignore the Chancellor's offer of a handshake.
It comes amid tense discussions over the future of the transatlantic alliance.
The pair shook hands outside the White House upon arrival but Trump did not respond to reporters' requests for a handshake in the Oval Office.
Chancellor Merkel appears to ask for a handshake and looks taken aback when the president seems to ignore her.
In a press conference after, Mr Trump said the two leaders had a productive talk about jobs and Nato funding.
The president previously criticised the chancellor on the campaign trail, accusing her of "ruining" Germany for allowing an influx of refugees and other migrants from Syria.
The president didn't retreat from his views on immigration.
Mr Trump said: "Immigration security is national security. We must protect out citizens from those who seek to spread terrorism, extremism and violence inside our borders. Immigration is a privilege and not a right. The safety of our citizens must always come first without question."
Chancellor Merkel began her speech saying it was always better to "talk to one another and not about one another".
Perhaps in an attempt to raise a smile, Mr Trump joked that they may have had wiretapping in common.
There have been previous claims of GCHQ listening in on Chancllor Merkel's office.
Mr Trump said: "As far as wiretapping by this past administration - at least we have something in common perhaps."
Chancellor Merkel said they spoke about the international situation, jobs and the shared interests they have.
She said: "We the Germans owe a lot to the US, particularly as regards to economic rise of Germany."
She added: "We are very gratified that we can live in peace and freedom as a unified country... Nato is a prime importance for us."