Sigmar Gabriel, the German vice-chancellor and foreign minister, will on Thursday become the first world leader to meet with Rex Tillerson, the new US Secretary of State after flying into Washington.

Mr Gabriel, who is also expected to meet Mike Pence, the vice-president, will be the first German representative to meet with the Trump administration.

“I hope to have a direct and personal exchange, as well as to offer friendship and trust,” Mr Gabriel said.

But his visit is widely being seen as a fence-mending mission after Angela Merkel’s government got off to a frosty start with the new president.

Merkel lectured Trump over the phone

Mr Trump and Mrs Merkel have already spoken on the phone — and by all accounts it wasn’t an easy conversation.

While there have been no reports of the sort of testy exchanges alleged between Mr Trump and Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian prime minister, Mrs Merkel does not appear to have minced her words.

She spoke with Mr Trump at the height of international protests over his ban on people from seven Muslim countries entering the US.

Her spokesman told reporters said she “explained” to Mr Trump the US’ obligations under the international Refugee Convention.