Carney Laughs at NSA Jab: Did Obama Call Angela Merkel on Hard Line or Mobile Phone?

Earlier today, President Obama called German Chancellor Angela Merkel to wish her a speedy recovery from a recent skiing injury. At Wednesday’s White House daily briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney was asked if the President and Chancellor Merkel discussed “any further the questions about eavesdropping on foreign leaders?” and had to laugh at the followup question: “Do you know if he reached her on a hardline or a mobile phone?”

The White House’s readout of the call read as follows (via email from The White House):

The President spoke to Chancellor Merkel today to wish her a speedy recovery following her injury and to congratulate her on the formation of her new cabinet. The leaders noted the full agenda for 2014, including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) negotiations and NATO Summit, and looked forward to working closely together to advance our shared interests. The President also extended an invitation to the Chancellor to visit Washington at a mutually agreeable time in the coming months.

Revelations, last year, that the NSA had monitored telephone communications of several world leaders, including Chancellor Merkel, caused considerable strain on some diplomatic relationships.

Carney was asked “if you could go beyond the written statement y’all put out on the President’s call to Chancellor Merkel. Did they discuss any further the questions about eavesdropping on foreign leaders?”

“I don’t have a further read out on that,” Carney replied. “I believe the President made the call because of her injury.”

To laughter from the assembled press, the reporter asked “Do you know if he reached her on a hardline or a mobile phone?”

With a short laugh, Carney replied, “I believe the President calls foreign leaders on a hard line.”

Here’s the video, from C-SPAN 3: