Days after President Donald Trump reasserted his populist “America First” philosophy in his inaugural address, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned against “polarization and populism” on Monday, calling for increased openness.

Merkel knocked those hoping to “return to a small world” and instead called for an increased openness, according to Reuters.

“I think that, a quarter of a century after German unification, after the end of the Cold War, a new historical era will perhaps be replaced by another one,” Merkel said. Unification between East and West Germany took place in 1990.

“We won’t get anywhere by trying to solve problems with polarization and populism,” she added later. “We’ve got to show that we’re committed to the basic principles of our nation.” (RELATED: Leaked Soros Memo: ‘Globalization’ Will ‘Increase Migration Pressures’)

Earlier this month, Trump criticized Merkel’s decision to bring more than a million refugees into Germany, calling it a “catastrophic mistake.” Trump used his inaugural address to declare his “America First” approach to governing.

Germany has struggled to effectively integrate the refugees, who have committed acts of violence and sexually assaulted German women. (RELATED: Cologne Deploys 1,500 Police Officers, Helicopters To Combat Sexual Assault)

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