Washington (CNN) As German Chancellor Angela Merkel prepared to bid President Barack Obama farewell in November, a reporter asked her to describe her sentiments about watching her American partner of eight years be replaced by Donald Trump. Standing in the German Chancellery on a drizzly Berlin afternoon, the notoriously restrained Merkel -- who became Obama's closest global friend only to see him replaced by a man who lambasted her on the campaign trail -- drew on her stolid pragmatism. "Out goes the president, and a new one comes in," she said. RELATED: Looming snowstorm delays Trump-Merkel meeting On Friday, Merkel presses ahead with the new, arriving in Washington for her first face-to-face encounter with Trump after months of preparation and one postponement due to snow. Analysts and White House officials alike say Friday's sit-down will be Trump's most important meeting with a foreign leader since the Republican businessman took office in January.Officials in both capitals said the goal was to build a functional working relationshipLast month Merkel met Vice President Mike Pence in Munich 
 Question:And _ and Merkel's first phone conversation, while cordial, contained some tense moments.
Donald Trump